Federal judge imposes 30-day notice period for Kennedy Center structural changes

US District Judge Christopher Cooper has ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before undertaking major physical changes to the building, including demolition. The ruling, issued on Thursday, was designed to “avoid any confusion” following the sudden closure of the Washington performing arts venue earlier this week.

The centre closed on Wednesday and will remain shut for at least seven days to assess what executive director Matt Floca described as “acute risks to public safety” arising from structural deterioration. Officials cited a partial ceiling collapse earlier in the month and issues with the building’s roof terrace canopy as primary concerns. This temporary closure occurred one day after the centre’s board voted to close the facility for an extended renovation.

The legal intervention follows a request from Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio board member who has actively challenged the administration’s efforts to overhaul the institution. While Judge Cooper rejected Beatty’s request for an emergency hearing, he imposed the notice requirement to regulate the pace of physical changes.

The dispute has been heightened by comments from President Donald Trump, who stated on Wednesday that without his administration’s efforts to restore the centre, “it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down.” The Trump-aligned board has argued that the building, which opened in 1971, is in serious disrepair.

The controversy gained further traction after an AFP photograph showed President Trump on board Air Force One examining a placard depicting the Kennedy Center being demolished. The image, which included the words “Kennedy Center DEMOLIS…” above a picture of heavy machinery, was viewed millions of times on social media and was subsequently included in Beatty’s court filing on Thursday.

This ruling adds to a series of legal challenges regarding the institution’s governance. Judge Cooper has previously blocked efforts to add President Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center without congressional approval, highlighting the ongoing tension between executive influence and institutional procedure.