RismadarVoice Reporters, August 26, 2026
The Trump administration has warned that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could eventually be demolished if courts prevent the administration from carrying out its proposed renovation and redevelopment plans.
In a court filing, Justice Department attorneys described the Kennedy Centre as “structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe” and argued that blocking the planned work could leave the institution in a condition requiring its eventual removal.
The filing represents a significant escalation in the months-long dispute over the future of the Washington, D.C., arts institution, which has faced opposition from Democrats, musicians and members of the Kennedy family.
The administration has argued that President Donald Trump, who appointed himself chairman of the Kennedy Centre board, is uniquely positioned to oversee the facility’s restoration. The filing claimed Trump secured $258 million in congressional funding for capital restoration and helped attract new donors.
It also suggested that if the renovation is blocked, an alternative such as a large outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the Potomac River could eventually be built on the site. The Justice Department acknowledged that such a structure would not adequately honour President John F. Kennedy, but said it would be cheaper and easier to maintain.
The Kennedy Center’s current renovation plans have previously been described as extensive but not involving the demolition of the main building. Proposed work includes replacing stage lifts and rigging systems, major electrical upgrades and measures to prevent leaks.
A Kennedy Centre spokesperson said Tuesday that the DOJ’s language described a hypothetical scenario that could arise if the renovation were blocked.
The dispute also involves Trump’s effort to place his name on the building. A judge previously ruled that the board’s earlier attempt to rename the institution was unlawful, noting that the Kennedy Centre was established by Congress as a living memorial to the assassinated president.
Despite that ruling, the Trump-appointed board voted this month to use a revised name: “The John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated by President Donald J. Trump.”
Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio, is challenging both the proposed closure and the name change, arguing that the decision to shut the centre was rushed and that board members were not given sufficient information before voting.
A hearing on the planned closure and name change is scheduled for Thursday in Washington. The judge has previously indicated that Congress, rather than the Kennedy Centre board, has the authority to rename the institution.
