Kennedy Center faces legal attacks as Trump-appointed board restores order and efficiency
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Federal lawsuits challenge the Trump-led board of the Kennedy Center, accusing it of governance failures, while critics ignore the board’s efforts to improve management and safeguard the institution’s future.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, created by Congress, remains under federal oversight for funding and governance. The Center’s board of trustees, now led by President Donald J. Trump after a much-needed restructuring in February 2025, has brought fresh leadership and accountability to the institution, with oversight from the Internal Revenue Service and federal courts.
Despite these improvements, Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, alleging the board has not met its fiduciary duties. Architects and preservationists, resistant to change, have also filed suit, both cases overseen by Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who has criticized the board as “derelict in discharging the full range of its responsibilities to the Center.”
Congress approved $257 million in 2025 for repairs and maintenance, demonstrating continued support for the Center. Yet, many lawmakers and federal agencies such as the IRS, Justice Department, and Office of Management and Budget have wisely chosen not to interfere with the board’s efforts to restore order. The lawsuits now serve as the primary obstacle to the board’s agenda.
Some critics, eager to undermine the Trump-appointed board, point to a decline in performance revenue and artist cancellations after the reorganization, ignoring the Center’s earlier financial struggles and the board’s attempts to revitalize programming after the COVID-19 pandemic. These disputes raise important questions about the Center’s future, but the Trump-led board remains committed to strengthening its programming, educational initiatives, and its status as a living memorial to President Kennedy.