WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced that his administration will transfer authority over the Kennedy Center to Congress following a court ruling that removed his name from the institution and blocked its planned closure for renovation work.
Trump said on social media that he had directed the US Commerce Department to work with Congress on the transfer. He added that lawmakers should take responsibility for the center’s management, maintenance and operations.
It remains unclear how the transfer would happen. The Kennedy Center was established by Congress in 1958 and is managed by a board of trustees. During his second term, Trump appointed several allies to the board.
The announcement followed a court ruling by US District Judge Christopher Cooper. The judge ordered the removal of all signs and official references that called the venue the “Trump Kennedy Center.” The administration has been given 14 days to comply with the order.
Judge Cooper said the law clearly states that the center is named after former President John F. Kennedy. He added that only Congress has the authority to change the institution’s official name.
BREAKING: President Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center and must be removed, a judge orders. https://t.co/IoACofMh3z
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 29, 2026
The judge also blocked plans to close the Kennedy Center for two years for major renovation work. However, he allowed necessary repairs to continue. Cooper said his ruling does not control how the center should be managed in the future.
Trump criticized the decision and argued that major renovations cannot be completed safely while the building remains open. He said keeping the center open during construction could put visitors at risk.
The case was brought by Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio. Beatty serves on the Kennedy Center board because of her position in Congress. She welcomed the ruling and said the center belongs to the American people, not to any one president.
The dispute is part of Trump’s wider effort to reshape major landmarks in Washington. He has also proposed building a large arch and a new ballroom near the White House. Some of those plans are also facing legal challenges.
Beatty filed the law-suit in December, arguing that renaming the Kennedy Center violated the law. Her legal team praised the judge’s decision and described it as a victory for constitutional principles.
Although the ruling blocks the current closure plan, Judge Cooper noted that the board could still decide to close the center in the future if it follows the proper process.
The Kennedy Center opened in 1971 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. It remains one of the most important cultural institutions in the United States.
