Kennedy Center board approves two-year closure, but court order still keeps it open
The Kennedy Center board voted to close the performing arts complex for two years, but the venue cannot shut yet because a federal court order still requires it to remain open.
The vote came less than an hour after Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the center from putting President Donald Trump’s name back on the building. Trump said the closure would happen immediately for safety reasons and said the Justice Department would seek a fast appeal, with a possible Supreme Court challenge if needed.
Cooper had already barred a temporary shutdown in May during a lawsuit brought by board member Joyce Beatty. He said the board could ask to lift that block if it decided to close the center in a prudent way. The board, chaired by Trump and made up of cabinet members and allies, had previously approved adding his name to the venue and later voted for a broader campus renaming tied to fundraising.
Beatty has argued that renovations were long expected to be phased while performances continued, rather than requiring a full closure. The dispute follows Trump’s replacement of several trustees in 2025 and later renaming moves that were followed by artist cancellations and weaker ticket sales.
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