Administration Files Plan for Possible Partial Kennedy Center Closure

The Trump administration told a federal court late Friday that it is still considering a partial closure of the Kennedy Center for renovations, despite an earlier ruling that the center must remain open. The filing came after a judge ordered the administration to provide more details on planned work and programming.

Officials said the center will present its board with three options: complete closure with no programming, partial closure with limited programming, or phased closures that allow a full schedule.

The administration said it expects the work to take place between July and December, pending board approval. Government attorneys noted the earlier order did not block all closures or require rescheduling of canceled events. The filing also stated that the administration has removed the president's name from the center's signage and will address any remaining uses as they are found.

Attorneys for an ex officio board member who filed the original lawsuit responded the same evening. They said the filing shows plans to leave the center with no meaningful operations after July 5 and asked why scaffolding was placed around the building. The response described the scaffolding as obstructing the view of the name-removal process and called it a breach of fiduciary duty.