Kennedy Center board votes to close for 2 years, add Trump's name to building
Kennedy Center board votes to close facility for 2 years, add Trump's name
Video Description The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees voted to move forward with a plan to close the main building for major renovations and add President Donald Trump's name to the facility's signage
WASHINGTON - The Kennedy Center board voted Thursday to close the building for two years for major renovations, and to add President Donald Trump's name to the building.
What we know:
The renovations to the facility are expected to cost upwards of $257 million, Axios' Cuneyt Dil told FOX 5 DC. The plans include upgrades to pipes and plumbing, auditorium seating, the HVAC system and more.
The board was debating between a full closure, a partial closure that would have lasted four years, and phased closures as needed for critical repairs.
Once the renovations are completed, the board voted to add Trump's name to the building with an inscription on the sign, which, according to Axios, would read "Restored and renovated by President Donald J. Trump."
The backstory:
The renovation plan has been tied up in legal challenges since President Donald Trump took control of the Kennedy Center board. Most current members, appointed by Trump, say the building needs top‑to‑bottom upgrades.
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WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 6: A sign is seen outside of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts as scaffolding with a tarps on it covers the marquee after President Donald Trump's name was removed on August 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.
What's next:
The board's plan will still need to be approved by the same federal judge who blocked the renovations in May.
With the full closure of the facility, the National Symphony Orchestra plans to perform at regional partner venues and touring sites. The Reach will remain open as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.