Kennedy Center weighing closure options amid legal battle

The Kennedy Center is still deliberating on whether to offer a full schedule of performances or limited programming in the coming months, as the Trump administration navigates a court order mandating the institution's continued operation. The situation remains fluid, with the administration seeking more time to respond to a federal judge's directives.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had previously halted the administration's plan to close the Kennedy Center for renovations until 2028, following a lawsuit filed by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty. Cooper also reversed an attempt to rename the center after President Trump. The judge had ordered the administration to provide details on renovation plans, board actions, and other relevant developments by Friday, including plans for public access and ongoing operations after the initially scheduled July 5 closure.

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The center's board plans to meet in mid-July to decide between three options: a 'full closure' with no public programs so the organization can complete repairs, a 'partial closure' with 'some continued public access and limited programming,' or a 'coordinated series of phased closures' with more programming.

In a court filing, Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca indicated that the center's board is scheduled to meet in mid-July. They will consider three options: a complete closure to facilitate repairs, a partial closure with some public access and limited programming, or a series of phased closures allowing for more programming.

Attorneys for the Justice Department requested additional time to respond to Beatty's arguments, stating the Kennedy Center's decision-making process is ongoing. They proposed a joint status report following the board's meeting. The government's lawyers noted that Cooper's order did not compel the center to reschedule canceled programming or seek new shows, nor did it entirely block renovations. Beatty's legal team, however, accused the administration of "implementing their shutdown decision by inertia" and "gutting" the center's programming, urging them to take "obvious steps" to restore it, citing the recent end of the popular play "Shear Madness" as an example.

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Plaintiff is not asking the Court to pick and choose what programming Defendants present, or to micromanage operations.