A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s two-year closure plan for the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ruling on May 29 that the center’s board acted unlawfully when it voted to shut down the venue for extensive renovations beginning July 4, 2026.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, found that the Trump-appointed board based its closure decision on “an insufficient, one-sided presentation of information” and “neglected to consider the full range of its statutory obligations and potential adverse consequences of closure on programming and memorial functions.” The 94-page ruling also ordered Trump’s name removed from the building’s facade and official materials, finding the renaming violated the Kennedy Center’s founding statute.
The Kennedy Center’s board voted unanimously in March to approve the two-year shutdown for capital repairs. Trump had announced the closure plan in February, citing the need for extensive structural work. The center’s leadership at that time included Trump appointees and loyalists, including newly installed CEO Matt Floca and board members selected by the administration.
Cooper’s ruling did not categorically bar the board from closing the Kennedy Center in the future. He stated that repairs to the campus were “sorely needed” and could continue, but said any future closure decision must come after the board “independently balances its multiple obligations to the Center in a prudent fashion.” The judge also noted that an outright closure “might be lawful” if pursued more carefully.
The legal challenge was brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democratic member of Ohio who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees. She argued the Trump administration deprived her of her right to vote on the closure and violated the board’s duty to maintain the presidential memorial and arts programming. Cooper found the board had overstepped its authority in stripping Beatty of her voting rights at the March meeting.
Trump responded to the ruling by appearing to cede control of the institution. In a Truth Social post, he said he would direct his administration to “transfer this failing Institution” back to Congress, writing: “Unless I am free to do what I do better than anyone else, bring this Institution back, physically, financially, and artistically, I have no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey into ‘NEVER NEVER LAND.'” The president also criticized the judge, saying he “should be ashamed of himself.”
The Kennedy Center’s board and the Justice Department have signaled they intend to appeal. A Kennedy Center spokesperson said the institution remains “committed to pursuing every lawful avenue to ensure the Trump Kennedy Center is restored as a national cultural landmark for all Americans to enjoy.” The Justice Department stated it “will continue to defend President Trump’s ability to restore the Center to its former glory.”
The ruling came amid broader backlash from the performing arts community. Multiple artists canceled performances at the Kennedy Center following the renaming and closure announcements, including members of the Les Misérables cast and composer Stephen Schwartz. The executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the Kennedy Center, also departed for a new position.
Sources
- Politico — Judge Christopher Cooper’s May 29, 2026 ruling blocking the Kennedy Center closure and renaming, with details on the board’s decision-making process and Trump’s response
- CBS News — Judge Cooper’s 94-page opinion, the board’s composition and voting record, Trump’s Truth Social statement, and the Kennedy Center’s appeal plans
- AP News — Trump’s reaction to the ruling and the administration’s response
- The New York Times — Judge’s subsequent orders requiring the Kennedy Center to outline operational plans and the center’s response
- NBC News — Details on Judge Cooper’s appointment and the scope of his preliminary injunction
