A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including potential demolition. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the ruling to clarify the situation following the sudden closure of the building to the public.
Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca stated that the temporary closure was due to acute risks to public safety stemming from structural deterioration of the building. The center will remain closed for at least seven days to assess safety risks in areas showing severe deterioration.
This closure is distinct from a vote by the Kennedy Center's board to close the center indefinitely for repairs, which was based on an inspection of the roof terrace canopy and a partial ceiling collapse. Floca indicated that the closure could be extended after further evaluation.
President Donald Trump, who was appointed chairman of the Kennedy Center by board loyalists, expressed that his efforts to restore the building should be recognized, citing its poor condition.
The closure announcement followed a court case initiated by Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman and trustee, who sought an emergency court hearing to prevent what she described as the building's unlawful closing. Beatty's legal team argued that the board's rationale for a temporary closure was a pretext for a permanent shutdown.
Judge Cooper denied Beatty's request for a hearing but clarified that his order prohibits demolition without prior notice. The board's decision to close the center came after Cooper blocked the institution from reinstating Trump's name on the building.
Congress has allocated $257 million for repairs, contingent on the board's approval to add Trump's name to the building.
Barbra Streisand, a Kennedy Center honoree, criticized the situation, calling the controversy over the center's operation painful to witness. She expressed indignation over the struggle surrounding Trump's name being associated with the institution.
The Kennedy Center board had previously voted to inscribe Trump's name on the facade, contingent on fundraising efforts. However, these proposals were rejected by Cooper, who ruled that changes could not occur without Congressional approval.
Cooper had previously ruled that the Kennedy Center illegally added Trump's name to the building, which was ordered to be removed. The institution complied but left scaffolding in place where the name was displayed.