Washington’s Kennedy Center faces bankruptcy, possible closure

Washington's Kennedy Center, named after the late President John F. Kennedy, faces potential bankruptcy and closure, according to the Washington Post. The center's board of trustees is set to vote on Tuesday to determine whether to close the main building due to financial and safety issues. The center could be unable to pay its staff or maintain its facilities within weeks, the Post reported, citing documents obtained by the paper.

Trump installed himself as chairman of the center shortly after starting his second term. He publicly recognized himself by naming the center the "Trump-Kennedy" center, a move that was later blocked in court. The Post reported that artists have canceled concerts at the venue in response to Trump's takeover, and ticket sales have plummeted to their lowest levels since the Covid pandemic.

The center was projected to collect about $124 million out of a $220 million budget in the past fiscal year, leaving a $23 million deficit after substantial spending cuts.

The center has also suffered damage from a severe storm earlier this month, with a section of ceiling plaster breaking off and falling about 60 feet in the Grand Foyer. The Post reported that repairs are needed. Asked about the Post's reporting, the Kennedy Center declined to comment, referring to a statement from spokesperson Roma Daravi blaming decades of neglect and deferred maintenance by the previous leadership.