A federal judge halted the Trump administration's attempt to rename the Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump and shut the venue for two years. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kelley issued the order Friday in Washington, directing the removal of newly installed signage within 14 days.
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed in December challenging the administration's unilateral decision to rebrand the performing arts center. The plaintiff argued the renaming violated federal law governing the iconic venue, which has operated under the Kennedy Center name since its 1971 opening as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Judge Kelley's decision found the Trump administration lacked authority to execute the name change without congressional action. The Kennedy Center operates under specific statutory framework that designates it as a national memorial. Altering that status requires legislative approval, not executive order.
The administration's plan also included closing the Kennedy Center for two years, a move the court found similarly problematic. The shutdown would have disrupted programming and violated the center's public mission.
The case reflects broader tensions over presidential power and institutional preservation. The Kennedy Center holds protected status as a national memorial, placing it outside typical executive control over federal property naming and operations. Courts have previously protected similar memorials from unilateral executive action.
The ruling represents a legal setback for Trump's effort to reshape federal institutions through executive authority. It signals courts remain willing to enforce statutory limits on presidential power, particularly when institutional identity and congressional intent intersect.
The judge's directive to remove signage within two weeks establishes a tight timeline for compliance. The decision leaves open questions about whether the administration will appeal or pursue the renaming through Congress instead. Any legislative path would require Democratic cooperation in an evenly divided Senate, making passage unlikely.