President Donald Trump's plans to temporarily shut down the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a massive renovation project have suffered a setback. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the board's decision to close the venue for roughly two years was flawed and failed to properly consider its legal responsibilities.
The ruling temporarily prevents the planned shutdown, which was expected to begin in July. Cooper emphasized that essential repair work can still continue, but the closure was not properly assessed.
The judge also ordered the removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center, citing that only Congress has the power to change the institution's name.
The Kennedy Center has vowed to appeal the decision, with Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi defending the board's actions and arguing that the renovation project remains necessary.
The legal dispute centered on whether the Kennedy Center board had properly evaluated the decision to shut down the venue for large-scale repairs.
