Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Restore Trump Name by June 12, Halts Renovations

A federal judge ruled May 29 that changes made to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts during President Trump’s second term lacked legal authority. The center has directed staff to restore the original name on all signage, documents and materials, with completion required by June 12.

A Thursday memo from the Kennedy Center’s Office of General Counsel instructed employees to update email signatures, letterhead, indoor and outdoor signage, and internal documents to reflect only “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.” The center’s general counsel confirmed the court order sets the June 12 deadline for all name removals.

The venue had operated under the Trump-era name following changes implemented in the president’s second term. The judge’s ruling also blocked the planned closure of the center for major renovations that were scheduled to begin in July. Hours after the May 29 decision, President Trump stated he would step back from the renovation project and return operational control to Congress.

The original article omitted procedural details contained in the Kennedy Center memo and the exact scope of the name restoration order. It also omitted the fact that the renovation project had secured funding and moved into implementation before the court intervened.