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Trump admin calls court block on Kennedy Center repairs 'existential' threat

Justice Department lawyers said the venue could face collapse and lose donors unless Trump is publicly recognized, citing $257 million in approved funding.

  • On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice told the D.C. Circuit Court that the Kennedy Center faces "financial ruin" without "appropriate recognition" for President Donald Trump, warning that donors will flee.
  • Following a leadership change, the Trump-controlled Kennedy Center board attempted to rename the venue and shutter it for two years, amid a projected $23 million deficit under the new administration.
  • District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled in May that the Kennedy Center may only be named for Kennedy, siding with Rep. Joyce Beatty, who challenged the board's efforts to reinstall Trump's name.
  • On Monday, Republican Sen. Mike Lee blocked bipartisan legislation from Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley and Lisa Murkowski intended to prevent administration demolition of the building.
  • Facing projected losses of around $100 million annually, the Kennedy Center recently relied on a $17 million infusion raised by Trump to continue paying its bills.
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Bloomberg Law broke the news in Arlington, United States on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
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