Federal Judge Orders Trump Name Removed From Kennedy Center After Board Vote

A federal judge ruled that the Kennedy Center Board acted unlawfully when it added President Donald Trump’s name to the institution, holding that Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name and only Congress can change it. The ruling also temporarily blocked a planned two-year closure for renovations, finding that the board’s March 16 decision was not properly informed.

Trump has said he wants to transfer responsibility for the Kennedy Center to Congress, but that is not the same as an executed transfer of control. Reuters reported that Trump directed the Commerce Department to make arrangements with Congress, while noting it was not immediately clear how that would be carried out.

The court did not take over Kennedy Center management. It said the board must operate within statutory limits, remove Trump-related naming, and reconsider any closure decision through a lawful, prudent process.

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