Preservation Groups Sue to Halt Kennedy Center Renovations

A coalition of historic preservation and architectural organizations filed a lawsuit in federal court in Washington on Monday, seeking to halt President Donald Trump's plans for a major reconstruction of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The suit, brought by eight groups including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, the DC Preservation League and the American Society of Landscape Architects, alleges that the administration initiated the project without congressional approval or required federal reviews, violating laws governing the center's operations.

The complaint targets a proposed two-year closure of the venue starting after the July 4 holiday, which the groups argue exceeds the authority granted to the center's board under its founding legislation. That law, enacted in 1964 and amended after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, restricts the board to repairs and improvements needed for basic functionality. The plaintiffs contend the renovations, estimated to cost over $250 million with funding approved by Congress last year, could involve extensive alterations, including potential demolition-like work...