A federal judge ordered the Kennedy Center to remove President Trump's name from the building, ruling it violated a 1964 law naming the institution after JFK. $257 million secured by Trump for renovations hangs in the balance as the president threatened on social media to abandon the project, stating he had "no interest in continuing what could only be a hopeless journey" without control over its direction.

The board, stocked with Trump allies, had voted in December to add the president's name to the performing arts center. Judge Christopher R. Cooper determined that "only Congress can change it" and temporarily blocked the institution from shuttering for renovations. The judge found the board was "derelict" in assessing the consequences of closing the cultural landmark.

The Kennedy Center has already laid off staff and canceled performances in anticipation of the closure. While the center plans to appeal the ruling, both sides must file an update by June 5. The legal battle threatens to disrupt not just the institution's operations but also potentially delay or redirect the federal funding secured for what officials called an "urgent and significant restoration."