Department of Justice lawyers threaten to destroy and replace the Kennedy Center if it cannot undergo President Donald Trump’s renovation plan
Department of Justice lawyers have warned that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could be demolished and replaced by a new venue if a court blocks President Donald Trump’s plans for an extensive renovation of the Washington landmark. In a 21-page filing submitted late Monday, August 24, DOJ attorney Brantley T. Mayers argued that the building faces serious structural problems and could eventually become impossible to save without the Trump administration’s proposed intervention. The filing comes as Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty continues her legal challenge against efforts by Trump’s allies to restore his name to the Kennedy Center and rename its surrounding plaza.
‘Dilapidated, outdated and decrepit’
In the court filing, Mayers described the Kennedy Center as “dangerously dilapidated, outdated,] and decrepit,” warning that blocking the planned work could leave it on a path toward destruction. “It is structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe and embarrassing to the Nation’s Capital,” he wrote.
The Trump administration argues that the proposed renovation is necessary to prevent further deterioration. If the project cannot proceed, Mayers said, the government could ultimately be forced to take down the building. Mayers also pointed to the construction of a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River as a possible alternative, while acknowledging that such a replacement would “fail to adequately honor President John F. Kennedy.”
Trump administration frames renovation as necessary for the Kennedy Center’s survival
Mayers further argued that Trump’s involvement is critical not only to the physical renovation but also to the Kennedy Center’s finances, claiming that blocking the recognition of the president’s contribution would cause “donors to flee, financial contributions to dry up and structural rehabilitation to stop.”
He also described Trump as “uniquely qualified” to oversee the project because of his experience in real estate and construction. “The bottom line is this: Even Beatty should prefer a healthy, restored Center to a decaying hulk that is doomed to inevitable destruction or collapse,” Mayers wrote.
Dispute centers on Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape the Kennedy Center
The DOJ’s warning is tied to a broader battle over Trump’s attempt to reshape the Kennedy Center. A Trump-aligned board has voted to put his name back on the building, with the proposed wording referring to the center as “Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump,” while the surrounding grounds would become “President Donald J. Trump Plaza.”
Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex officio member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, argued that the trustees do not have the authority to rename an institution Congress established as a memorial to Kennedy. A federal judge previously ordered Trump’s name removed from the facade, and Beatty filed an emergency request last week seeking to prevent the Trump administration from restoring it.
Joyce Beatty warns against rewriting history
Beatty has framed the dispute as a test of congressional authority and the rule of law rather than simply a disagreement over construction. “My testimony is about not allowing this unlawful act, protecting the rule of law and standing up for the only living memorial to John F. Kennedy,” she said during a July 22 congressional oversight hearing. “It’s about whether powerful people can rewrite history, seize public institutions and silence dissent.”
Her lawyers have warned that the Trump administration could attempt to implement the latest naming resolution soon after September 8, increasing the urgency of her request for judicial intervention.