Trump administration says it might demolish the Kennedy Center if court blocks renovations
Justice Department lawyers say the venue is structurally unsafe and could be taken down without a two-year shutdown for repairs, citing $257 million in funding.
- Justice Department attorney Brantley T. Mayers warned in a court filing on Monday that the Kennedy Center is "structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe, and embarrassing to the Nation's Capital" and could face demolition if not permitted to close for two years for renovations.
- The filing frames the two-year closure as essential for critical repairs including stage lifts, rigging, and electrical upgrades, contrasting with Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca's recent focus on specific maintenance tasks rather than total facility shutdown.
- Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, is challenging the Board's closure decision as rushed and lacking adequate information, while the DOJ defended the administration's planning commitment and President Trump's "unrivaled expertise and experience in real estate and construction."
- Beatty is also contesting the Trump-appointed Board's renewed effort to add Trump's name to the building this month, after a prior court ruling compelled removal of the president's name from the structure.
- A hearing scheduled for Thursday afternoon will address both the contested closure and the Board's renaming efforts, with legal disputes intensifying over the facility's future and renovation timeline.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Administration Threatens to Demolish Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center's very survival is now part of a court fight over President Trump's name. In a court filing Monday, Justice Department lawyers argued that if renovations—and plans to add Trump's name to the building's facade—aren't allowed to go forward, the performing arts center may have to...
The Trump government has mentioned a possible demolition of the Kennedy Center, if justice blocks the decision of the board of directors.
This is the first time that the possibility of demolishing the Center has been raised as an extreme alternative to its closure for two years due to works.
DOJ Warns Kennedy Center Faces Demolition Unless Trump's Renovation Proceeds Amid Beatty Legal Fight
The US Department of Justice has warned that Washington's Kennedy Center could ultimately face demolition if a federal judge blocks a contested renovation plan that depends on donors backing a scheme to rename parts of the arts venue after President Donald Trump. The warning comes in a court fight triggered by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who is suing to stop the board adding Trump's name to the national cultural landmark with…
Donald Trump's government threatens to demolish the Kennedy Center if justice stands in the way of the president's name returning to the facade. The president's administration claims that the institution may deteriorate until it becomes "dangerous and dilapidated".
Trump administration warns Kennedy Center could be knocked down if renovations don't move forward
The Trump administration said it may need to demolish the Kennedy Center if a plan to close the building for two years as part of a controversial renovation project pushed by President Trump and the organization's board is blocked.
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