A federal judge ruled that Representative Joyce Beatty must be allowed to participate in the Kennedy Center board meeting next week, temporarily resolving a dispute with President Trump over the performing arts center's future. Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered that Beatty receive planning documents and be given 'a meaningful opportunity to lodge her dissent' at the Monday meeting.

Beatty, designated an ex officio board member, has opposed Trump's plans to overhaul the Kennedy Center, which include renaming facilities and closing the venue for a two-year 'complete rebuilding.' The judge expressed skepticism about the government's claim that no final plans exist just days before a potential board vote, calling it 'borders on preposterous.'

The ruling comes amid broader concerns about Trump's influence over the institution, including his appointment as board chairman and the addition of his name to the center's exterior. Beatty's lawyers argued the center, built as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy, must follow special rules beyond those of typical nonprofit organizations.