Trump's Kennedy Center Board Must Give 30 Days Notice, Judge Rules

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center board to provide 30 days' notice before making any major physical changes, including demolition, on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

The ruling reinforces an earlier injunction blocking the Kennedy Center from closing for its planned renovation. The judge's order requires a detailed status report, supported by a sworn declaration from a knowledgeable representative, on the temporary closure and emergency repairs. President Trump was photographed on Wednesday night, September 17, 2026, with what appeared to be plans to demolish the Kennedy Center.

He stated the building will end up being ripped down if his administration does not receive recognition for renovation efforts. The Kennedy Center's executive director, Matt Floca, announced the main building's temporary closure on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, citing acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration. Floca said the building would close for at least seven days to assess safety risks, following a roof terrace canopy inspection and a partial ceiling collapse earlier in September.

The Kennedy Center Board voted nearly unanimously to close the building for safety and prepare for reconstruction. Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, a board member, filed an emergency motion, arguing the safety rationale was a pretext for permanent closure. Barbra Streisand criticized Trump's overhaul as galling and painful to witness, citing his unchecked ego and insistence on placing his name on the institution.

A federal judge blocked Trump from keeping his name on the building in May, leading to its removal from the facade. Activists plan a human chain protest against the demolition threat. Eight historical, architectural, and preservationist organizations, plaintiffs in a case against the Kennedy Center, called for its leaders to resign or appoint a receiver. The Department of Justice insists the temporary closure is unrelated to the board's decision to pursue long-term renovations.