Kennedy Center asks judge for more time as renovation options are debated

The Kennedy Center filed a Friday night court petition asking a federal judge for additional time to comply with an order that requires the venue to remain open to the public during renovations. The filing, submitted by Justice Department attorneys representing the center, said the board is weighing three possible paths: a full closure while work proceeds, limited events in unaffected areas, or periodic closures combined with a full programming schedule.

Board members are expected to vote on the options in mid-July, after which long-term programming and staffing decisions will be revisited. The center had previously been ordered by U.S. District Judge Casey Cooper to keep operating, after he ruled that a board vote to shut down the venue was unlawful because it would impede congressionally mandated activities.

"They are really in a major, major crisis that has left its leadership gasping for air," said a source briefed on the options.

The center’s leadership has not commented on the specific closure scenarios, but a spokesperson indicated that the board will review budgets at an upcoming meeting. The White House declined to comment.

Judge Cooper also nullified a board decision to rename the facility after the former president, and the venue has since removed the name from its exterior, though large tarps still cover the former lettering. Attorneys for Rep. Joyce Beatty, who sued to stop the name change, described the tarps as a “petty act of defiance.”

Current programming is limited to outdoor movie screenings, a children’s concert by the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute, and a weekend art studio for kids. Industry observers note that restoring a full Broadway-level schedule will be difficult because touring companies book well in advance and many agents have declined to book acts at the center under its present leadership.

One suggested remedy is to increase performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, whose contract and budget for the new season have yet to be approved by the board. Adding small-scale shows on the Millennium Stage could also demonstrate continued public access.

The center has experienced significant staffing reductions, with layoffs dating back to the previous administration and continuing this spring under current director Matt Floca. Former programming staff warn that the loss of specialized personnel and disrupted relationships with artists could have lasting effects on future bookings and donor support.

"There’s a complete leadership vacuum," said Mallory Miller, a former assistant manager of dance programming and activist with Hands Off the Arts.

The court will consider the center’s request for an extension as it seeks a sustainable path forward for the historic performing-arts venue.