Federal Judge Mandates 30-Day Advance Notice for Any Physical Alterations or Demolition at the Kennedy Center

A United States federal judge has ordered the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to provide 30 days’ notice before making major physical changes to the building, including demolition, following remarks by President Donald Trump that the Washington performing arts venue could be “ripped down”.

US District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the order on Thursday, stating it would “avoid any confusion” after the centre’s sudden closure this week. Scaffolding remains visible on the main building of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, as captured on September 17, 2026, by Kent Nishimura/AFP.

The Kennedy Center closed on Wednesday and will remain closed for at least seven days to evaluate what executive director Matt Floca described as “acute risks to public safety” stemming from structural deterioration. Officials pointed to a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month and issues with the building’s roof terrace canopy. This temporary closure occurred just a day after the center’s board voted to shut the facility down for an extended renovation.

The Trump-aligned board contends that the building, which originally opened in 1971, is in a state of serious disrepair. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump stated that his administration’s efforts to restore the centre deserved recognition, warning that without them, “it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down”.

The judicial order came in response to a request from Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty, an ex officio Kennedy Center board member who has contested President Donald Trump’s initiatives to overhaul the institution. Although Judge Cooper declined Representative Joyce Beatty’s request for an emergency hearing, he mandated that any major physical changes, such as demolition, require a 30-day notice.

Meanwhile, an AFP news agency photograph from Wednesday showed President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One examining a placard that seemingly depicted the Kennedy Center undergoing demolition. The image displayed the words “Kennedy Center DEMOLIS…” alongside a picture of heavy machinery clearing rubble. US President Donald Trump was photographed examining this large printout about the Kennedy Center on board Air Force One after landing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on September 16, 2026, by Brendan Smialowski/AFP.

This AFP image generated millions of views on social media and dominated headlines across numerous US news outlets, eventually being incorporated into Representative Joyce Beatty’s court filing on Thursday. This latest legal dispute follows prior rulings by Judge Cooper that successfully blocked attempts to add President Donald Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center without receiving congressional approval.