It has an almost theatrical quality. One of the most well-known performing arts venues in America, the Kennedy Center, has a tarp covering its front facade to hide a sign that sparked a political controversy. Explanations are being demanded by a federal judge. Attorneys are requesting extensions. In the midst of all of this, a board meeting is being planned to determine whether the establishment will remain open at all.
It began early on June 13, or at least the most noticeable portion of it did. Scaffolding was built over the front of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., by workers who arrived before dawn. The building’s facade was covered with a tarpaulin. The court-ordered removal of President Trump’s name from the building, which had been added only months prior in December 2025, was the apparent cause. By June 12, the removal was scheduled to take place. The sign was completely covered up after it occurred overnight and hours later. It’s still hidden as of this week.
This is not being handled as a minor procedural hiccup by Federal Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who has been supervising the related lawsuit filed by Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty. He ordered the Kennedy Center to provide a detailed explanation of the current state and purpose of that scaffolding and tarp. The center asked for an extension, but he turned it down. Reading between the lines of these directives, it appears that his patience is running low.
Governance is at the heart of the lawsuit. After being essentially excluded from board participation, Beatty, a Democrat and ex-officio board member, filed a lawsuit against Trump and the Kennedy Center’s board. Earlier this year, Cooper decided that she had to be permitted to take part. Construction tarps, missed court deadlines, and a new CEO who, according to public records, spent his career managing facilities rather than programming stages are just a few of the consequences that followed that ruling.
It’s worth pausing to consider that final detail. Matt Floca has a degree in construction management and was promoted to president and CEO in March. He has no experience with fundraising, artistic direction, or arts administration. He has now given the board three options for the center’s future: a narrowly phased approach that attempts to maintain a full schedule, a partial closure with limited programming, or a full closure for renovations. A vote by the board is anticipated in the middle of July.
The difference between the Kennedy Center’s current appearance and its former state is difficult to ignore. The center has hosted over 2,000 arts and education events annually in recent years. A few outdoor film screenings, including The Princess Diaries and Clue, as well as a few kid-focused workshops are scheduled for today. Even if the center stabilized tomorrow, it would still take time to rebuild a meaningful season because established artists usually reserve touring schedules one to two years in advance.
The tarp is not the end of the problems. On June 12, the Washington National Opera, a longstanding resident company and artistic partner, filed a $17 million lawsuit against the Kennedy Center, alleging that the center had withheld endowment funds and donor gifts intended for the WNO. The center is already dealing with a court case, a leadership change, and a hollowed-out staff—the majority of its programming staff has either resigned or been laid off over the past year—so this is a startling accusation that adds another layer to the situation.
As all of this is happening, it seems like the tarp covering the Kennedy Center’s facade is doing more work than just hiding a sign. Additionally, it covers a once-established cultural institution that is currently unsure of its schedule, leadership, finances, and, it seems, even its own name.
