Judge blocks Trump Kennedy Center closure, orders removal

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from closing the Kennedy Center for two years and ordered the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the performing arts venue, ruling that the institution's board acted unlawfully. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the rulings on Friday in Washington, D.C., siding with a legal challenge brought by Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center's board.

Judge Cooper concluded that the board overstepped its statutory authority by unilaterally adding Trump's name to the center in December. The judge ordered the administration to remove all physical signage bearing Trump's name and eliminate any references to a "Trump Kennedy Center" from official materials. In his written opinion, Cooper stated that the center's founding statute clearly designates it to be named for President John F. Kennedy and that only Congress has the power to change it.

The judge also granted a preliminary injunction against the board's March 16 vote to close the facility for extensive renovations slated to begin in July. Cooper found the closure decision was ill-informed and...