The board of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington has voted again to advance Donald Trump’s plan to temporarily shut the centre for major renovations and to add the US president’s name to the building’s facade, according to reports. The vote comes after a federal judge ordered that Trump’s name be removed from the signage, following its addition last year. The Kennedy Center is now expected to submit its renovation approach to the court by next week, as the judge reviews whether the board’s earlier decision-making met required standards. Vote to close the main buildingThe board voted “to close the Kennedy Center’s main building, while keeping a newer addition to the campus, known as the Reach, open for limited programming and to operate as an active memorial to John F Kennedy”, the New York Times reported first. The Reach is described as a separate part of the Kennedy Center campus that would remain operational during the work to ensure some programming continues, rather than shutting down the entire site. The New York Times also reported that shortly after the decision on closures, the board voted to add an inscription beneath the institution’s name that would state: “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J Trump.” The reported outcome was confirmed to the publication by Joyce Beatty, a Democratic representative for Ohio who sits on the board, and by lawyers. Court order challenged by centreIn May, US district judge Christopher Cooper ordered Trump’s name removed from the facade. Cooper ruled the addition was illegal because changing the institution’s name required action by Congress. The Kennedy Center removed Trump’s name in June, but said it is appealing Cooper’s ruling. Beatty said the new decisions were intended to bypass the court order. “This latest development is a transparent effort to circumvent the Court’s ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed,” she said in a statement. “I will continue to fight for this treasured national monument.” The Kennedy Center declined to comment when contacted about the reports. Under the current process, the board’s decisions will require approval by a US federal judge. Judge reviews due diligence and closure plansCooper also previously issued a temporary block on Trump’s request to close the arts institution for two years. The closure had been scheduled to begin in July after the board voted unanimously in March, prompting Beatty to file suit. In his May ruling, Cooper said the original closure decision appeared “ill-informed and seemingly preordained”. He added that, in endorsing Trump’s announcement, the board had failed to carry out its full responsibilities to the centre. Cooper said the board did not base its decision on enough information and did not consider the broader range of statutory duties and potential negative effects on programming and the centre’s memorial role. He also noted the board has a legal obligation to keep the facility functioning as a memorial to JFK. Renovation options presented to boardAhead of the latest meeting, Kennedy Center management said it would present the board with three approaches for consideration, according to the Associated Press. The options described in reporting included a complete closure, or a partial closure allowing “some continued public access and limited programming in spaces unaffected” by the construction. A third alternative was to consider “a highly limited series of phased closures” focused on the centre’s most serious infrastructure needs while scheduling and maintaining a full programme. The New York Times reported further detail on the proposal shown to the board, describing a $250m “renewal” project. It included substantial repair work, new marble floors and “acoustical” improvements, along with plans to “temporarily move the famous 3,000-pound bronze bust of JFK” to another building on the campus. The centre has until next week to provide its plan to Cooper. He will then examine whether the board performed sufficiently thorough due diligence before taking the decisions. Join the discussion? 14 August 2026
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