A federal judge stopped a major plan pushed by allies of President Donald Trump for the Kennedy Center, ordering that the president's name be removed from the cultural institution and temporarily preventing its scheduled closure for an extensive renovation.

The decision was issued by federal judge Christopher Cooper, who concluded that the center's board of directors exceeded its powers by changing the official name of the facility without authorization from Congress and by approving a two-year closure without adequately complying with its legal obligations.

According to information published by the national press, the ruling responds to a lawsuit filed by Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, a member of the Kennedy Center board, who questioned both the name change and the suspension of activities planned for this summer.

The judge questions the board's decisions

In a 94-page resolution, Cooper argued that the Kennedy Center's name is protected by the federal legislation that created the institution and that only Congress has the power to change it.

“Congress gave its name to the Kennedy Center, and only Congress can change it,” the justice wrote in his decision.

The judge ordered the removal of any reference to Trump's name on the building's façade, official materials, digital platforms and signage related to the cultural venue.

He also criticized the process by which the temporary closure of the complex for renovations was approved, noting that the board made an “ill-informed and apparently predetermined” decision.

The controversial transformation promoted by Trump

The controversy began months ago, when Trump replaced several members of the board of directors with political allies and officials of his administration. Subsequently, they appointed the president as president of the council.

The board later approved officially renaming the venue the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” a move that sparked legal questions and strong criticism within the American arts community.

According to the ruling, Rep. Beatty was also improperly deprived of voting participation in a key meeting where the future of the institution was discussed.

Reaction in the cultural world

The changes promoted by the new administration of the center generated rejection among artists, musicians and cultural organizations. Various performers canceled scheduled presentations and some managers decided to leave their positions.

Although Cooper stopped the immediate closure of the Kennedy Center, he clarified that the necessary repairs can continue and that the board could reconsider a temporary suspension of activities as long as it complies with the corresponding legal procedures.

The ruling represents one of the most significant court challenges against Trump's efforts to reconfigure federal cultural institutions during his second term.