Kennedy Center Board Faces Lawsuit Over Failure to Resume Programs After Court Order

Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and ex officio board member, has filed a lawsuit claiming the Kennedy Center’s board is ignoring a May 2024 court order that requires the venue to maintain its programming. Beatty’s legal filing says the board, chaired by former President Donald Trump, has taken no steps to resume shows and could effectively close the center by July 5, 2026.

The lawsuit references a U.S. District Court ruling by Judge Christopher Cooper that blocked a planned two-year closure for renovations and ordered Trump’s name be removed from the building. While the order did not mandate an immediate restart of all performances, it stated the board has an "affirmative duty" to carry out programming and preserve the memorial to President Kennedy.

Kennedy Center attorneys responded that the court’s order does not require the board to reschedule previously cancelled events or to secure new programming. They said the management team is preparing recommendations for how to reopen, including options ranging from a full closure with no programming to a phased repair plan that would eventually restore a full schedule. A vote on the proposed options is expected in mid-July.

The dispute stems from changes made to the center’s governance after Trump’s second inauguration in February 2025, when he replaced several trustees, appointed himself a board member, and was later elected chair. The board subsequently dismissed the center’s former president and removed voting rights from 23 ex officio members, many of whom were Democrats.

Fox News Digital sought comment from the Kennedy Center and the White House but did not receive a response.