Judge says government must give 30 days’ notice before demolishing Kennedy Center

A federal judge on Thursday declined Rep. Joyce Beatty’s (D-Ohio) request for an emergency hearing to review the Kennedy Center board’s latest vote to close the building for renovations.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper will, however, require the government to provide at least 30 days’ notice if it intends to demolish the performing arts center in the nation’s capital.

Cooper said his requirement seeks to “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events.”

The Trump administration has described the Kennedy Center as in a state of decay, saying renovations are needed to conduct repairs.

President Trump has publicly suggested the building could soon be razed if courts don’t allow him to add his name to the facade. The president was seen Wednesday night on Air Force One looking at a placard that appears to depict a potential demolition.

Beatty, an ex officio member of the board, requested the emergency hearing as Trump’s handpicked board on Tuesday again voted to close the center for the renovations.

“It is simply outrageous that we have gotten to the point of consistent judicial intervention to protect this historic institution from getting bulldozed by the President,” Beatty said in a statement. “I will continue to fight for the rule of law and defend this memorial on behalf of the American people.”

Cooper, an appointee of former President Obama, blocked a previous vote, but the board is pressing ahead with a second bid.

Beatty’s lawyers raised alarm in particular after experiencing issues accessing the building this week.

The Trump administration says those restrictions are temporary and separate from the long-term renovation plan. The current closure is set to last for a week, though officials have warned that timeline could be extended.

“For years, Democrats let the Kennedy Center rot, allowing water damage and crumbling infrastructure to turn a national treasure into a building in decay. As President Trump said last night, without his intervention, The Kennedy Center will inevitably continue to decline,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said in a statement.