Kennedy Center Faces Possible Closure Amid Financial Crisis
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Board filings indicate the Washington arts venue may shut within days due to severe fiscal and structural problems, while a lawsuit challenges its recent renaming.
The Kennedy Center announced to its board that it could run out of funds and be forced to close as early as Tuesday, according to documents filed in a federal lawsuit. The filing, submitted by Rep. Joyce Beatty, alleges the center cannot meet payroll or maintenance obligations within weeks and describes the building as unsafe following a ceiling collapse in the main foyer.
The lawsuit also seeks to halt the recent renaming of the venue after President Donald Trump, a move the plaintiff says was made without proper oversight. A status hearing on the case is scheduled for the same day as the board meeting.
Board members, most of whom were appointed by Trump, have argued that only the former president could raise the estimated $250-$500 million needed for repairs and renovations. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose wife serves on the board, said Trump “has the power and expertise to get this done on time and on budget.”
The center’s administration has not responded to requests for comment. Critics note that the current president and CEO, Matt Floca, was promoted from facilities management and lacks experience in fundraising or artistic direction, and that the board lacks members with comparable performing-arts management backgrounds.