Former staffers of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts warned a federal court in a new filing that President Donald Trump's scheme to shutter the landmark venue for two years is not just unlawful, but a grave threat to arts and culture.
The Kennedy Center closure is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to shape the facility in his image, alongside a number of other projects around D.C., like Trump's controversial, privately-financed construction of a massive ballroom, in place of the East Wing of the White House.
Legal action was first filed last month against the plan, with Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), a Democratic member of the Kennedy Center's board, laying out grievances with the project.
According to Scott MacFarlane of the Meidas Touch Network, the new brief says that "Defendants’ rushed decision to shutter the Kennedy Center in its entirety for multiple years flies in the face of industry best practices," and that "responsible renovation of the Kennedy Center would, prior to construction, involve sustained planning, assessing, engaging, analyzing, and designing."
"One of the likely casualties of Defendants’ contemplated renovation is the Kennedy Center’s raison d’être: its performing arts programming," warned the members in the filing. "The abruptness of the announced closure, via the President’s social media in February and a Kennedy Center press release in mid-March, would have already disrupted plans well underway for the upcoming season. This could undermine institutional relationships for years to come. It could also jeopardize the ability of the Kennedy Center to attract marquee talent in the future."
Even before the planned closure, the Trump-led changes to the Kennedy Center led to a massive decline in ticket sales, as well as a wave of cancellations of top talent performances at the venue.