The Kennedy Center's board of trustees voted on Thursday to add President Trump's name to the building's facade and to close the main performing arts complex for a $250 million renovation. The two-year closure plan and the name restoration now go to a federal judge for review.
The vote was described by Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a trustee by virtue of her position in Congress. She said the board approved both measures. The center's board is now controlled by Trump, who replaced many of its members.
The decision revives a proposal that U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had blocked earlier. In May, Cooper ruled that the letters spelling out the name on the building had to be removed, saying the board had not thoroughly evaluated the plan. The judge also rejected a previous attempt to shutter the complex, saying the board had not fully considered the scope of options and impacts.
The renovation would close the main campus of the Washington, D.C., arts venue. It was not immediately clear when the closure would begin. A representative for the Kennedy Center did not respond to a request for comment.