WASHINGTON — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced on Monday that it faces imminent bankruptcy and could close its doors as soon as Tuesday. In two board resolutions made public that day, the institution described its financial and physical condition as dire, asserting that only President Donald Trump can rescue the cultural landmark.
The disclosures come just ahead of a scheduled board meeting on Tuesday, which aligns with a status hearing ordered by U.S. Judge Christopher Cooper. Cooper is overseeing a federal lawsuit filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) to block the renaming of the center to honor President Trump, a dispute that began last December. Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio, serves as an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board.
Critics of the center’s current administration have suggested the timing of the bankruptcy warning is not coincidental, given the pending legal proceedings. The status hearing before Cooper is primarily intended to establish future deadlines and court dates.
On Monday, Beatty filed the board resolutions with the court. One resolution outlines plans to shut down the facility immediately, claiming the building is unsafe for occupancy. However, a document accompanying the filings states that construction consultants hired by the board have never indicated such safety concerns. Despite this, the board maintains that the Kennedy Center is in a “precarious fiscal position,” warning it will be unable to meet payroll obligations or fund routine maintenance contracts within weeks.
Most of the center’s staff have already been fired or have departed. Those who remain are reportedly largely loyal to President Trump, who now serves as the board’s chairman. The majority of the board members were selected by the president.
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