Up to date Sept. 13, 2026, 10:54 p.m. ET
Officers on the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts have warned that the establishment is nearing chapter and might be pressured to shut as early as Tuesday, Sept. 15, based on a number of studies.
In paperwork obtained by The Washington Publish and The New York Instances, the Kennedy Middle’s present management — which was put in by President Donald Trump — argued that the establishment faces “sure fiscal collapse” except the president’s identify is added again to its facade. The warning appeared in a 57-page packet that was distributed to the Kennedy Middle’s board of trustees forward of a particular assembly scheduled for Sept. 15.
The draft decision claims that inside a couple of weeks the establishment will be unable to pay workers or meet upkeep prices, based on the Publish. The draft decision additionally says the middle is vulnerable to chapter, however Trump has “provided to step in and lift the mandatory funds” to save lots of the establishment, the Instances reported.
The draft decision detailed 10 choices for putting Trump’s identify under the primary signage on the entrance of the middle, based on the Instances.
“The board understands that with out such acceptable recognition it’s unlikely that President Trump will present the elemental oversight of the renovation of the primary constructing and lead the fiscal rescue of the middle,” the draft decision states, the Instances reported.
The Publish was first to report the contents of the 57-page packet. USA TODAY reached out to the Kennedy Middle for remark.
The Kennedy Middle has been embroiled in political and authorized disputes since Trump named himself chair in the beginning of his second time period. Although the middle’s board voted in December 2025 to add Trump’s identify to the constructing, a federal decide later ordered the signage eliminated.
The board then voted in August to revive his identify to the facade whereas advancing plans to shut the middle for a two-year renovation that’s anticipated to exceed $250 million. However the transfer to place Trump’s identify on the constructing stays tied up in court docket and has not taken impact.
The board’s choice got here regardless of a federal decide beforehand ruling that the middle’s official identify can’t be modified with out Congress. Authorities legal professionals argue the brand new signage would acknowledge Trump’s position in renovating the constructing quite than formally renaming it.
Contributing: Mike Stunson, USA TODAY Community; Reuters
