Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Renaming Kennedy Center

CNBC reported Friday that a federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump from affixing his name to the Kennedy Center. The court also temporarily halted plans to close the Washington venue for a two-year renovation.

Judge Cites Congress as Sole Naming Authority

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the ruling in Washington, finding that the Kennedy Center’s founding statute reserves naming rights to Congress alone. The board’s unilateral vote to rename the institution the “Trump Kennedy Center” last December was therefore unlawful, he concluded. Cooper wrote plainly that Congress created the center’s name and that only Congress can alter it. The ruling grants summary judgment on the Kennedy Center renaming to the plaintiff, Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty of Ohio.

The same order temporarily prevents the center from closing for a proposed renovation period. Cooper found the board had not properly weighed its broader obligations to the institution before voting to shutter it. He left open the possibility the board could revisit a closure decision after conducting a more thorough and balanced review.

Also Read: What Is the Kennedy Center and Why Does Its Name Matter?

Background on the Board Dispute

The legal battle traces back more than a year. Trump removed several Kennedy Center trustees in early 2025 and subsequently appointed himself to the board. The reconstituted board then voted in December to adopt the new name, prompting rapid signage changes on the building’s facade. Around the same time, the board stripped ex officio members, including Beatty, of their voting rights. Beatty sued to reverse both actions.

Cooper ruled on the voting rights issue as well, ordering that Beatty’s full trustee privileges be restored. His decision found no legal basis for treating ex officio trustees differently from general trustees on matters of fundamental governance. He cited common-law trust principles embedded in the statute, which place all trustees on equal footing in administering the institution.

Also Read: Trump Administration Arts Policy and Federal Institutions

What Comes Next

The Justice Department, representing Trump, had not publicly responded to the ruling at the time of CNBC’s report. The decision does not permanently settle the renovation question, as the board retains a pathway to revisit closure through a proper deliberative process. The renaming block, however, rests on statutory language Cooper described as unambiguous.

The facade changes made after the December vote now appear to be on borrowed time pending any appeal.

Read Next: Trump DOJ Lawfare Fund Temporarily Blocked by Judge