The scaffolding and tarp covering the facade of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 13. The tarp remains one of the questions at the center of a federal lawsuit.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
A recent status report submitted to a federal court on Tuesday detailed the Kennedy Center’s intention to reinstate President Trump’s name on the arts complex.
The board’s proposed signage would read: “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump, Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.” The last line will only be included if the fund achieves a $100 million donation target. Additionally, the board plans to rename the center’s grounds as “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.” The Kennedy Center does not plan to re-add Trump’s name to the building before September 8.
The center’s filing also justified the tarp covering the signage at the entrance, stating it is essential for the ongoing construction, partly to safeguard the marble paneling during renovations.
The Kennedy Center Board has voted to close the main building and reinstate Trump’s name.
The status report was presented to Judge Christopher R. Cooper, overseeing the lawsuit between the Kennedy Center and Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex-officio board member. Beatty’s lawyers requested a ruling before September 8, expressing concerns that the defendants might implement the resolution soon after that date. They also worry that the historic marble facade may have been damaged when Trump’s name was initially attached above Kennedy’s.
Beatty’s legal team argued that the tarp is unnecessary for construction, claiming the board maintains it to obscure the facade, contravening a court order to honor President Kennedy exclusively.
The federal filings from Tuesday reveal that the board was offered two shutdown options earlier this month by Delta Consulting Group, a Virginia-based firm. One option was a complete shutdown, and the other was partial. Beatty’s attorneys claim Delta lacks expertise in arts management. NPR sought comments from Delta and the Kennedy Center but received no immediate response.
Since last year, NPR has repeatedly inquired about the experts consulted for the renovation project but has not received any answers. Some parts of the Tuesday filing, including the building plans and consultant’s report, are sealed.
On the same day, the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), a key tenant of the Kennedy Center, announced its 2026-27 season, planning to perform at six different venues in the Washington, D.C. area. The NSO is facing severe financial difficulties due to a widespread boycott by artists and audiences. The Washington Post first reported the orchestra’s financial troubles.
Changing venues can be challenging for arts organizations as it disrupts audience routines. However, for the NSO, performing outside the Kennedy Center might attract more concertgoers, even if the center remains operational during renovations.
