Federal Judge Blocks Kennedy Center Closure and Bars Trump Name Change

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. from closing and permanently barred the Trump administration from renaming the iconic performing arts venue after the president.

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center's board did not follow proper procedure before voting to shutter the center for two years of repairs. Beyond the closure, the judge called the proposed name change "unlawful," writing in his ruling that "Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it."

The board had voted last year to add Trump's name to the building. Under the ruling, the administration now has 14 days to remove Trump's name from the building and the center's website.

The center had been set to close its doors on July 5th. However, the judge is allowing planned repair work to move forward, noting the building's upkeep is "sorely needed," even as the formal closure itself is blocked.