The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is set to close for renovations after a federal judge blocked an effort to add President Donald Trump’s name to the building and its grounds.
The Kennedy Center’s board voted on Tuesday to close the Washington arts institution for an extended renovation project. The decision came just hours after US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the board could not add Trump’s name without approval from Congress.
The board had previously voted to recognise Trump by adding an inscription to the building’s facade and renaming the plaza in his honour. The move followed Trump’s efforts to raise funds for a major renovation of the financially troubled institution.
Cooper said the board did not have the legal authority to make such changes because the Kennedy Center was established by Congress as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.
The ruling followed an earlier court decision that required Trump’s name to be removed from the building after it was added by the center’s board. Workers subsequently removed the name from the facade.
Trump has argued that his fundraising efforts and involvement are essential to the center’s future. He has also warned that he could prevent the planned renovation from moving forward if his name cannot be restored.
The center has been facing financial and structural challenges, with officials citing the need for major repairs. The proposed renovation is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars and could take up to two years.
The closure and renovation plans have unfolded alongside a wider dispute over the direction of the institution since Trump returned to office and became chairman of its board.
The legal battle is expected to continue, with the Justice Department indicating that it plans to appeal the latest ruling.
The Kennedy Center remains a major US cultural institution, hosting performances in opera, theatre, music and dance. Its future will now depend on the outcome of the legal dispute as well as decisions concerning its renovation and funding.
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