The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could shut its doors as early as Tuesday, according to an internal memo that revealed a deepening financial crisis and framed the physical state of the main building as endangering lives.
The 57-page assessment documents, obtained by the Washington Post and distributed prior to a special board meeting Tuesday, warns the Kennedy Center is approaching “certain financial collapse” and lay out options for keeping the institution afloat. The center is facing an approximately $23 million deficit as revenue has fallen and expenses continue to strain available cash.
President Donald Trump’s appointed board of trustees recommended that the center’s main building be closed immediately, an action that moves forward the president’s plan to renovate and revitalize the facility. Programming could be relocated to other venues while the building remains closed, while the Reach, the center’s newer expansion, could continue operating.
The assessment also points to Trump’s name being added to the building as a potential source of financial help, arguing it would encourage the president to assist with fundraising efforts.
In pointing out structural ruin, Kennedy Center leaders also noted the recent structural damage in the main building as a result of storms in the Washington, D.C. area. A portion of the ceiling crumbled on Sept. 4, which renewed calls for the center to close for renovations. No one was injured as a result of the incident.
Trump had planned a major two-year renovation of the building, arguing that deferred maintenance had left it in poor condition. Congress approved $257 million for repairs and renovations in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
But the makeover faced legal setbacks as Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), an ex officio member of the center’s board, sued over changes made under Trump’s leadership and sought to block the planned closure.
A federal judge blocked that closure in May but allowed for a new vote after a more thorough review, prompting the board to vote again in August after mulling over several renovation options, including remaining partially open.
Representatives for the Kennedy Center told the court that they would not rename the performing arts center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, but would instead incorporate the president’s name in several other ways. Beatty then filed an emergency motion, claiming that the actions remain unacceptable.
PORTION OF KENNEDY CENTER CEILING COLLAPSES, RENEWING CALLS TO CLOSE FOR RENOVATIONS
The Department of Justice responded to the emergency order by saying that if the two-year renovation is not approved, the Kennedy Center will be demolished and turned into an amphitheater. Justice Department attorneys later backpedaled and agreed to hold off on adding Trump’s name while a federal judge further deliberates the matter.
Tuesday’s meeting could now determine whether the Kennedy Center waits for its planned renovation shutdown or closes its doors much sooner.