Washington—President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick have reiterated that the Kennedy Center must remain closed until safety can be assured, citing a recent ceiling plaster collapse in the Grand Foyer as evidence of hazardous conditions.
Whistleblowers allege delayed repairs
A lawyer representing anonymous whistleblowers sent a letter to congressional committees on Thursday, asserting that Kennedy Center director Matt Floca has known about roof leaks for years. The letter claims Floca halted a repair program in April, despite the center receiving $9.3 million in congressional funding for a roofing replacement through the administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Attorney David Seide, who authored the letter, wrote that the repairs were “not treated as priorities nor as acute risks to public safety.” He alleges Floca requested and obtained the funds but then stopped the remediation process.
Administration’s response
President Trump, who serves as chairman of the Kennedy Center board, has emphasized that the closure is a precaution to protect the public. “The safety of our patrons, artists, and staff comes first,” the administration stated, echoing the center’s own public comment.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick shared security video of the ceiling piece falling, reinforcing the administration’s position that the building presents “completely unsafe conditions” and that “people cannot be allowed to go into this building any longer.”
Center’s rebuttal
In a statement to CNN, the Kennedy Center pushed back, saying the roof overhang has leaked for years and that the full extent of interior damage was only discovered this summer. Floca noted that a change in the procurement approach, not a determination that the work was unnecessary, caused the delay.
The center also announced a temporary closure until September 30 to assess safety risks, while a federal judge has blocked a planned July 4 shutdown pending further review.
Legal backdrop
The whistleblower claims emerge amid a lawsuit filed by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex‑officio board member, seeking to prevent the addition of President Trump’s name to the venue. Lawyers for the center argue that without extensive renovations, the building could deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that might ultimately need to be demolished.
President Trump, now in his second term, has installed himself as chairman of the board and overseen sweeping changes to the center’s leadership and programming. He announced earlier this year that the Kennedy Center would close for approximately two years for renovations, a plan that was temporarily halted by a federal judge.
What’s next?
The administration continues to press for a thorough safety assessment before any reopening. Critics, including Rep. Beatty and other members of the arts community, argue that the delayed repairs reflect mismanagement, while the White House maintains that the priority is protecting families and patrons from potential harm.
As the legal and political battles unfold, the Kennedy Center’s future remains uncertain, with both safety concerns and cultural significance at stake.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
