Trump to Kennedy Center board ahead of vote on 2-year shutdown: ‘You have to close it’
By Judy Kurtz
Published on March 16, 2026.
President Trump has urged his handpicked board of trustees to approve his plan to temporarily shut down the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years. The move comes ahead of a crucial vote on whether or not to allow the institution to continue its entertainment operations. The announcement comes after a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) aimed at preventing Trump from blocking the temporary closure of the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971, has undergone extensive renovations, including updates to the air conditioning system and seating, and the installation of new marble.
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