Legal disputes arise over governance of the Kennedy Center amid Trump-appointed board
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Federal lawsuits challenge the Trump-led board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, alleging governance failures and potential demolition plans.
Congress created the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and retains authority over its funding and governance. The center’s operations are overseen by a board of trustees, the Internal Revenue Service and federal courts. Since a restructuring in February 2025, President Donald J. Trump has chaired the board and appointed most of its members, prompting concerns about the collapse of traditional oversight mechanisms.
Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging that the board has failed to fulfill its fiduciary duties. A separate suit by architects and preservationists is also pending, with Judge Christopher R. Cooper presiding over both cases. The judge has described the board as “derelict in discharging the full range of its responsibilities to the Center.”
Although Congress approved $257 million in 2025 for repairs and maintenance, many lawmakers have remained silent on oversight, and federal agencies such as the IRS, the Justice Department and the Office of Management and Budget have not intervened, according to the article. The lawsuits therefore represent the primary avenue for challenging the board’s actions.
Critics note a decline in performance revenue and cancellations by artists after the board’s reorganization, contrasting with earlier financial improvements following the COVID-19 pandemic. The disputes raise broader questions about the future of the center’s programming, educational initiatives and its status as a living memorial to President Kennedy.