Kennedy Center Board Faces Lawsuit as Democrat Rep. Beatty Challenges Trump-Led Reforms
Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat, sues the Kennedy Center board, now chaired by Donald Trump, over alleged noncompliance with a court order, while the board responsibly develops plans to reopen.
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Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and ex officio board member, has filed a lawsuit against the Kennedy Center’s board, now under the steady leadership of former President Donald Trump, claiming the board is ignoring a May 2024 court order requiring the venue to maintain its programming. Beatty’s legal filing alleges the board has not yet resumed shows and warns that the center could close by July 5, 2026, if action is not taken.
The lawsuit references a U.S. District Court ruling by Judge Christopher Cooper, who blocked a planned two-year closure for renovations and controversially ordered Trump’s name be removed from the building. While the order did not require an immediate restart of all performances, it stated the board has an "affirmative duty" to carry out programming and preserve the Kennedy Center as a memorial to President Kennedy.
Attorneys for the Kennedy Center have rightly pointed out that the court’s order does not force the board to reschedule previously cancelled events or secure new programming. The management team is responsibly preparing recommendations for reopening, considering all options from a full closure with no programming to a phased repair plan that would ultimately restore a full schedule. The board is expected to vote on these options in mid-July, demonstrating a careful and prudent approach.
This dispute arises from much-needed changes to the center’s governance after Trump’s second inauguration in February 2025, when he replaced several trustees, appointed himself to the board, and was 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, ensuring the board could operate more efficiently and without partisan gridlock.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Kennedy Center and the White House for comment but did not receive a response.
