The Trump administration must give a 30-day notice before demolishing the Kennedy Center or straying from its planned renovations for the building, the Obama-appointed federal judge overseeing the performing arts center court battle ordered.
U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper wrote in a minute order on Thursday that if the Trump administration makes “any changes to the scope of the project plans,” the White House must alert the court and the plaintiffs suing over the Kennedy Center renovations at least 30 days before implementation. Both Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) and the DC Preservation League have filed challenges against the Trump administration’s plans to add President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade and close for a structural renovation project.
TRUMP SEEN READING PLANS FOR KENNEDY CENTER ‘DEMOLITION’ DURING RIDE ON AIR FORCE ONE
The order comes after an image of President Donald Trump reading a large placard that said “Kennedy Center Demolished” went viral on social media. Trump also told reporters on Wednesday that the center could “close” and “end up being ripped down” if the Trump administration is not recognized on the building.
The judge’s order from Thursday specifically states that the administration must warn of any changes, “including but not limited to any ‘demolition’ of the Center’s main building.”
Cooper also denied Beatty’s motion for an emergency hearing to address the Kennedy Center board of directors’ decision to immediately close the facility for renovations. Cooper wrote instead that the Kennedy Center must file a “detailed status report” by Sept. 23 on management’s separate decision to close the board temporarily for safety reasons.
Earlier Thursday, Kennedy Center Executive Director Matt Floca notified the court of his decision to temporarily close the main building of the Kennedy Center for seven days, beginning Sept. 16. He told the court that the closure is so he could “assess existing safety risks in those portions of the main building exhibiting severe structural deterioration.”
The center must file the court-ordered status report by the seventh day of the weeklong temporary closure. Floca warned in his earlier filing that the center could “extend” the closure, as they will be reevaluating on a weekly basis.