Judge Orders Kennedy Center to Give Notice of Any Major Changes to Building

The Trump-run Kennedy Center must give 30-days notice before making any major changes to the building, a federal judge ordered on Thursday.

Judge Christopher Cooper issued the ruling, saying he wanted to “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events,” the AP reported.

This latest development in the Kennedy Center saga comes during a hectic week for the venue.

The order follows President Donald Trump saying on Wednesday evening that the Kennedy Center could “end up being ripped down” if he doesn’t provide his support to the venue. For that to happen, his administration should have recognition, the president said. The president was photographed looking at demolition plans for the Kennedy Center while on Air Force One.

On Tuesday, the Kennedy Center board, which is chaired by Trump and stacked with his allies, voted to close down the venue after Cooper rejected a proposal to add Trump’s name to the building. The board claimed the venue was on the brink of “certain fiscal collapse” the day before. Wednesday, Ohio Democrat and Kennedy Center ex officio board member Rep. Joyce Beatty, who has been leading efforts to stop Trump’s actions at the venue, asked a court to undo the planned closure.

By Thursday, fencing was being put up around the Kennedy Center for what the executive director, Matt Floca, claimed was a temporary closure to make needed repairs, according to the AP. Beatty’s lawyer said in a legal filing the so-called short-term shuttering was a pretext to close the center for the long run. Later in the day, Cooper gave his ruling concerning notice for any major alterations to the center, agreeing with Beatty “to make crystal clear” that the building cannot be demolished without the court being informed of the plans beforehand.

Meanwhile, Congress has allocated $257 million for renovations that Trump has said depends on his name being on the building.