The Washington Post reported that the Kennedy Center is facing severe financial difficulties and could close as early as Tuesday, according to a document issued ahead of a board meeting scheduled for the same day as a federal court hearing regarding a lawsuit against renaming the center after President Trump. The center’s administration claims it cannot meet payroll obligations or routine maintenance costs within weeks due to its precarious fiscal position, though Rep. Joyce Beatty disputes these claims in her filing with the court. Most of the Kennedy Center's board was selected by President Trump, who now serves as chairman.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., is facing potential bankruptcy and may have to close as early as Tuesday, according to reports by The New York Times and the Washington Post citing a 57-page draft resolution circulated among board trustees. The resolution highlights that without President Donald Trump's name on its facade, the center could soon be unable to pay staff or meet maintenance costs. Trump offered financial support contingent upon receiving “appropriate recognition,” including one suggestion reading: "Renovation Restoration and Endowment overseen by President Donald J Trump and the Trump Kennedy Center Fund." The board, with many members appointed by Trump, will vote on 10 options Tuesday for restoring his name to the building, aiming to avoid fiscal collapse. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), an ex officio trustee, challenged these actions in court, arguing they are attempts to circumvent previous rulings against renaming the center after Trump.
Written for “Kennedy Center Financial Crisis” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Kennedy Center says it's on the brink of bankruptcy, might close as early as Tuesday
On Sunday evening, the Washington Post reported that the Kennedy Center administration told its board that the arts institution is on the brink of bankruptcy — and that it might be forced to close as soon as Tuesday.
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it → say → Tuesday
Both the majority of the center's administration and board were selected by President Trump.
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majority → select → Trump
The document detailing this plan, whose existence NPR has confirmed, was issued ahead of a board meeting slated for Tuesday.
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NPR → detail → Tuesday
That's the same day as a status hearing set by Judge Christopher Cooper, who is overseeing the federal lawsuit brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty to stop the renaming of the center to honor Trump last December.
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who → set → Trump
The status meeting previously scheduled by Cooper is essentially to set more deadlines and court dates.
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meeting → schedule → deadlines
But critics of the Kennedy Center's administration said the timing of this report may not be a coincidence.
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timing → say → report
On Monday, Beatty filed two board resolutions with the court.
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Beatty → file → court
One says it is planning to shut down the center immediately, calling it unsafe for continued occupancy.
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it → say → occupancy
In a document accompanying the board resolutions, however, Beatty claims that the construction consultants the board brought in have never said any such thing.
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board → accompany → thing
The board also says the Kennedy Center is in such a "precarious fiscal position that it will not be able to support its payroll obligations, nor routine maintenance contracts within a matter of weeks.
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it → say → weeks
In the meantime, most of the center's staff have either been fired or departed, but those who remain are largely loyal to President Trump.
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who → fire → Trump
Most of the Kennedy Center board was handpicked by the president, who now serves as its chairman.
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who → handpicke → chairman
On Sept. 5, the center's administration said that a portion of the ceiling in the main building's grand foyer collapsed due to rain damage.
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portion → say → damage
The Kennedy Center's argument regarding the institution's financials are that the center is in dire shape, and that President Trump is the only person who can fundraise at such a massive scale or successfully oversee such an extensive renovation project – and as such, he deserves his name to be on the building, just like how big donors at hospitals and universities, for example, get to see their names on prominent display.
The Kennedy Center did not respond to NPR's requests for comment on Monday.
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Center → regard → Monday
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — whose wife, Allison Lutnick, was named to the Kennedy Center board in Feb. 2025 — made that argument last month outside of a court hearing in the Beatty suit.
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wife → name → suit
Lutnick said: "Basically, it would cost four or $500 million if you do it over time or it'll cost $257 million if President Trump is the construction manager.
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Trump → say → million
He has the power and he has the expertise to get this done.
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this → have → expertise
And he will get it done on time and on budget."
Nevertheless, the institution faces real challenges.
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institution → get → challenges
Large, legacy, not-for-profit institutions like the Kennedy Center generally depend on a balance of earned revenue, philanthropic giving and some amount of government grants.
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institutions → depend → grants
The last president of the Kennedy Center, former Ambassador Richard Grenell, tried to insist that every performance be revenue-generating or at least revenue-neutral.
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performance → try → Center
Its current president and CEO, Matt Floca, was elevated from his position as head of facilities for the Kennedy Center.
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president → elevate → Center
He has no experience in artistic direction, fundraising or arts administration, unlike his peers at similar centers across the country.
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He → have → country
No one else on the board has any known experience with similar performing arts institutions, either.
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one → have → institutions
Both artists and audiences have fled the Kennedy Center over the past year plus, saying that it's become politicized under Trump.
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it → flee → Trump
Its live event calendar is a small fraction of what it used to be.
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it → use → what
Donations have also dried up.
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Donations → dry → ?
It's unclear whether or not Trump's further imprimatur would change the situation.
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imprimatur → change → situation
