The decision would be in defiance of a federal judge’s order.
A tarp covers the sign for the Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., last week as federal employees complied with a court order to remove Trump’s name from the building. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
The board of directors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing told a judge this week that the venue has no plans to schedule new programming and will likely remain closed for renovations.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper in May ruled that the Kennedy Center’s board had decided to close the facility in July for two years of renovations and refurbishments without considering its responsibilities as a federal monument, ABC News and The Washington Post reported.
The May 29 ruling also ordered the center to remove President Donald Trump’s name from the building, which it complied with last Friday, just hours before the court’s deadline to do so.
Trump made a sudden announcement in February that he planned for the center to be shut down for “construction, revitalization and complete rebuilding” over the course of a two-year period.
Matt Floca, executive director of the Center, told Cooper in a filing Friday that the board will be considering three potential paths forward — full closure, partial closure or a set of phased closures — but that public access to parts of the building would be maintained during any work there.
“Given present uncertainty as to future programming, management has deferred affirmative long-term programming or staff adjustments until the board selects a final operational path.
Performances and shows that were scheduled after the July closure date have already been canceled and are not expected to be rescheduled.
The public will continue to have access to various exhibits and smaller gatherings held there, including the John F. Kennedy exhibit — the facility was designed as a living memorial to the former president — during work there.
The Center’s board is expected to consider the three renovation options at a meeting in mid-July.
This week in Washington
President Donald Trump presents a Medal of Honor to Tom Ripley on behalf of his father, John W. Ripley, during a Medal of Honor award ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo
