Crisis at the Kennedy Center: Why Its Main Building Is Going Dark for Two Years

The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., announced on Tuesday that it will temporarily close its main building for two years. This decision came after a district court ruled against the Board's attempt to restore President Donald Trump's name to the building. The closure decision also followed a day when the cultural center was said to be "on the brink of bankruptcy."

The Board's vote was based on a 57-page packet provided to them, which claimed that keeping the main building open would endanger visitors and staff. The packet included a memorandum from Executive Director Matt Floca, who pointed to a ceiling collapse in the grand foyer and an independent assessment by Delta Consulting Group, which found the building to be in an "escalating state of disrepair."

The assessment suggested that further risk to the public and employees would occur if the building remained open and renovations were not started immediately. However, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Kennedy Center Board member, disputed the assessment, arguing that Delta Consulting Group had "expressly disclaimed providing any such opinion."

A Kennedy Center spokesperson referred TIME to a statement from Roma Daravi, the Vice President of Public Relations, who described the incident as "another example of the urgent need to close for renovation and revitalization." The closure marks the latest episode in the Trump-related turmoil that has affected the Kennedy Center, which underwent significant changes after Trump gained control of the institution in February 2025.