The Trump administration has indicated that the Kennedy Center may face demolition if it cannot proceed with its renovation plans, which include adding President Donald Trump's name to the building. Justice Department attorney Brantley T. Mayers stated in a court filing that without the renovations, the Center could deteriorate into an unsafe structure. The filing also mentioned a proposed outdoor amphitheater, which it claimed would not honor President John F. Kennedy adequately. The Department of Justice described the Kennedy Center as 'structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe, and embarrassing to the Nation’s Capital.'
The board of the Kennedy Center, appointed by Trump, reportedly believes that Trump's recognition is essential for the Center's financial survival and structural renewal. The filing noted that Trump secured $258 million in funding from Congress for restoration efforts but did not clarify the status of those funds.
Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca previously described the necessary renovations as including the replacement of stage lifts, rigging systems, and electrical work, which could be completed within two years if the facility were closed during renovations. Floca emphasized that the main building's exterior would not be materially affected by the renovations.
A spokesperson for the Center stated that the DOJ's filing presents a hypothetical scenario contingent on the blockage of renovations by partisan interests. The official reiterated that the facility would not be gutted.
Mayers' filing suggested that only Trump and his administration could restore the Center, arguing that the administration has dedicated significant resources to the planning of the renovations. The filing opposed a motion from Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, to prevent the administration from closing the Center. Beatty has criticized the decision-making process regarding the closure and the name change, which a previous court ruling deemed unlawful.
The board recently voted to propose a new name for the building, changing it from 'The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' to 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.' A hearing on the name change and potential closure is scheduled in D.C. on Thursday, with the judge previously stating that only Congress has the authority to rename the site.