The Kennedy Center's Trump-aligned board, chaired by the president, has voted to close the institution. This decision follows a ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who blocked the center from returning President Donald Trump's name to the building's façade.
The closure is part of a larger legal battle over changes the president seeks for the venue. Trump has stated that $257 million allocated by Congress for repairs will only be released if the renaming is permitted. However, federal courts have ruled twice that such a change cannot proceed without Congressional approval.
Following threats from the president that the center could be "ripped down" if his plans were not carried out, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to submit any plans for physical changes in writing 30 days in advance. This notice requirement applies to any major physical changes to the building, including demolition.
The legal proceedings have also involved an allegation that a forklift repeatedly struck the center. Meanwhile, the federal judge denied a request from a Democratic lawmaker for an emergency hearing regarding the closure, which began on Tuesday.