The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted on Tuesday to immediately close the institution’s main building for two years, a decision reached just hours after a federal judge rejected the board’s latest attempt to rename the venue in honor of President Donald Trump. The move follows claims by center leadership that the arts institution is facing financial ruin and structural danger.
Hours before the board’s vote, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper issued a ruling against the board’s effort to add Trump’s name to the facade, citing his purported role in planned renovations. This was the second legal setback for the administration’s branding efforts, following a previous injunction in May. The closure announcement came one day after executives warned that the center was on the verge of bankruptcy.
In a 57-page packet submitted to the board, Executive Director Matt Floca—appointed by Trump in March—highlighted a September 4 incident in which a section of the ceiling collapsed in the grand foyer, scattering debris near the Concert Hall. The resolution argued that both independent assessors and center leadership deemed the main building unsafe for occupancy and that further delays posed risks to the public and staff.
However, the safety claims have been contested. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member who has sued to prevent the renaming, stated that the Delta Consulting Group assessment had “expressly disclaimed” providing opinions on the building’s safety. Beatty’s legal team characterized the closure and naming efforts as a form of “hostage taking,” arguing the board is attempting to extort the president for recognition by threatening the center’s viability.
Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, defended the decision, stating that the structural failure demonstrated the “urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization” due to decades of neglect under previous leadership.
The closure marks the latest chapter in the political upheaval that has swept through the Washington, D.C. landmark since Trump returned to the White House. In February 2025, Trump dismissed all board members appointed by former President Joe Biden, installed his own appointees, and named himself chairman. He also ousted long-serving president Deborah Rutter, dissolved the social impact division, and asserted direct control over the Kennedy Center Honors nominees, dismissing candidates he labeled “woke.”
Financial impacts followed quickly. The Washington Post reported in June 2025 that subscriptions had dropped 36% year-over-year, representing a $1.6 million decline. Despite these figures, a spokesperson told TIME that assets and income were actually “up,” contradicting the board’s characterization of the center’s fiscal health.
Congress has appropriated approximately $256.7 million in restricted funding for capital repairs, available through September 2029, which aligns with the projected cost of the renovations. Nevertheless, scholars like Charlotte Canning of the University of Texas at Austin have questioned the urgency of the two-year shutdown, suggesting the dire warnings are a strategic ploy to pressure courts into allowing the renaming.
As the center prepares for a prolonged closure, it remains unclear whether the board will revisit resolutions related to Trump’s naming or the associated endowment fund, which NPR reported had raised no funds as of September 15.
Interesting how the board claims financial ruin while simultaneously blocking public access to Congressionally funded repair money. The math isn’t adding up.
I can’t believe they’re shutting down a iconic venue for two full years. What about the staff and performers who lost their livelihoods overnight?
This feels like a blatant hostage situation. Using a ceiling collapse to force a political rename? The timing is too convenient.