Trump’s Plan to Transfer Control of the Kennedy Center to Congress
US President Donald Trump has announced that his administration will transfer control of the Kennedy Center to Congress, following a court ruling that ordered the removal of his name from the Washington venue and blocked his plans to close it for renovations. The move comes as part of a broader effort by the Republican leader to reshape Washington’s monumental core.
Mr Trump made the announcement on social media, stating that he had instructed the US Commerce Department to “make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution” and give lawmakers responsibility over its operation, maintenance, and management. However, it remains unclear how exactly this directive will be carried out. The Kennedy Center is currently run by a board of trustees, which Mr Trump has filled with allies during his second term in office.
The decision came after a judge ruled that the performing arts centre, which Mr Trump renamed the “Trump Kennedy Center,” cannot be renamed without an act of Congress. US District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington directed the Trump administration to remove all physical signage bearing Mr Trump’s name and eliminate any references to a “Trump Kennedy Center” from official materials within 14 days.
In his ruling, Justice Cooper emphasized that the Kennedy Center’s organic statute clearly states that the center is to be named for President Kennedy and cannot bear any other formal name or public memorial based on the Board’s unilateral decision. He wrote, “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.”
The judge also clarified that his decision does not dictate how the Center should be run or prescribe any specific plan for the institution—whether it involves construction, closure, or otherwise. His ruling was in response to a lawsuit brought by Ohio Democratic US Representative Joyce Beatty, who is a member of the Kennedy Center’s board due to her position in Congress.
Ms Beatty expressed her support for the ruling, stating that the “Kennedy Center is an institution that belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump’s Renovation Plans and Legal Challenges
Mr Trump’s plan to renovate the Kennedy Center is part of a larger push by the Republican leader to reshape Washington’s monumental core. In addition to the renovation, he also intends to erect a 76-metre-tall arch and build an 8,360-square-metre ballroom at the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. These efforts have also faced legal challenges.
A federal appeals court has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with building the ballroom while it considers the case. Meanwhile, Justice Cooper’s order also stops the Trump administration’s planned two-year closure of the Kennedy Center. However, the judge noted that the board could still decide to close the center if it independently balances its multiple obligations to the Center in a prudent manner.
Ms Beatty filed the lawsuit in December, calling the renaming of the building “a flagrant violation of the rule of law” that “flies in the face of our constitutional order.” Her lawyers praised Justice Cooper’s decision, calling it “a powerful blow against the Trump administration’s corruption.”
The Legacy of the Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971, was established as a living memorial to the late US President John F. Kennedy. It serves as a cultural hub for the performing arts and continues to play a vital role in the nation’s artistic landscape.
