A coalition of preservation groups and architecture organizations filed a federal lawsuit on March 23 aiming to halt planned renovations at the Trump–Kennedy Center in Washington.
The groups, which included the DC Preservation League, alleged that the Trump administration did not follow procedures outlined under federal law for implementing large-scale changes to historic properties.
The lawsuit also alleges that officials moved forward with exterior changes—such as repainting columns and adding new signage—without consulting required local and federal review bodies, including the D.C. Department of Buildings, the State Historic Preservation Officer, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts.
While the Trump–Kennedy Center has previously secured permits for various projects, the plaintiffs argue these recent alterations bypassed mandated oversight processes.
Central to the complaint is the claim that no Section 106 review was conducted, a process required under federal law to assess how projects might affect historic properties.
The plaintiffs argue this omission reflects a broader pattern of advancing changes without proper review. They say that any large-scale renovation or redesign could cause lasting damage to the site’s historic character, architectural integrity, and symbolic purpose as a national memorial.
The plaintiffs brought the case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against multiple defendants, including the Trump–Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and President Donald Trump in his role as board chairman.
In response, White House spokesperson Liz Huston defended the plans.
“President Trump is committed to making the Trump-Kennedy Center the finest performing arts facility in the world,” she told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. “We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.”
The Epoch Times has reached out to the Trump–Kennedy Center for comment.
Congress had allocated nearly $256.7 million through fiscal year 2029 for repairs, restoration, security improvements, and addressing maintenance backlogs at the cultural center.
The plaintiffs also include the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects, Docomomo US, the Society of Architectural Historians, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City, and the Cultural Landscape Foundation.
Others are the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and its secretary Doug Burgum, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Capital Planning Commission.
This is not the only lawsuit filed looking to stop changes to the center.
The controversy comes amid broader changes during Trump’s second term.
These developments have sparked backlash across the arts community.
Several prominent artists and performers withdrew from scheduled appearances, while others resigned from advisory roles.
Leadership changes have also followed, including the recent departure of National Symphony Orchestra executive director Jean Davidson to take a position in Los Angeles.