Judge tightens Trump's leash for future Kennedy Center schemes 'to avoid any confusion'

A federal judge is tightening the leash on the Trump-allied Kennedy Center board, ordering it to provide 30 days' written notice before making any changes to its renovation plans, including potential demolition of the historic building's main structure.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper denied a request for an emergency hearing from preservation advocates, but used the order to reinforce a promise the Kennedy Center previously made in a related case: that it would alert both the court and plaintiffs if the board ever reversed its position that the building wouldn't be demolished or replaced with new construction.

Cooper made clear he wants no ambiguity going forward.

"To avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events," Cooper wrote, requiring written notice at least 30 days before any change to the project's scope presented to the court.

The order also demands the Kennedy Center file a detailed status report by September 23, backed by a sworn declaration from a knowledgeable center representative, explaining a recently disclosed "temporary closure" and unspecified emergency repairs described in the center's own court filings and a declaration from executive director Matt Floca.

Cooper additionally left the door open for plaintiffs to pursue discovery related to a notice of supplemental authority they'd filed, to the extent allowed under federal rules and the case's existing schedule.

The ruling adds to a string of ongoing legal fights over the Kennedy Center's future since Trump-aligned board members took control last year, including a separate case in which a different judge previously blocked the center from adding Trump's name to the building without congressional approval.