Kennedy Center director says closure will last 1 week ‘unless extended’

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Trending on The Hill - September 17, 2026

Trending on The Hill - September 17, 2026

The Kennedy Center’s main building will be closed for at least a week for emergency repairs, its executive director said in court filings on Thursday, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) insists the move is unrelated to the Trump-aligned board’s decision to pursue long-term renovations.

Executive Director Matt Floca wrote in a court declaration that he decided on Wednesday to temporarily cut off public access to the center after determining that there were “acute risks to public safety” due to structural damage in certain parts of the performing arts center.  

“During this temporary closure, which will last for seven days, unless extended, I intend to assess existing safety risks to those portions of the main building exhibiting severe structural deterioration,” he wrote, adding that a possible extension of that timeline would be evaluated........

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