A federal judge ruled Saturday that a Democratic lawmaker who is an ex-officio member ofthe Kennedy Centerboard must be given an opportunity to participate in an upcoming meeting on plans for temporarily closing the performance venue.
Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who is opposed to the plannedtwo-year closure for renovationssought by President Donald Trump, filed a lawsuit that included a request that she be allowed to take part in Monday's board meeting at the White House where the $200 million project is on the agenda. It also said she needed to receive details from the board about the renovation plans set for discussion.
"Beatty faces the risk of irreparable harm without the Court's intervention, especially because once the meeting comes and goes without a meaningful ability for her to consider the issues and weigh in, that injury cannot be undone," U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said in Saturday's ruling.
The judge also ruled that Beatty must be provided certain readily available information in advance of the meeting related to the planned closure of the center.
"The Court has little trouble concluding that Beatty's lack of access to core information about the Kennedy Center's closure and reconstruction plans will cause her irreparable harm," Cooper wrote, adding that the lawmaker "has not received any information from her co-trustees, Board leadership, or staff as to even the basic scope of the work that is planned for the Kennedy Center — whether it turns out to be modest renovation, complete demolition and rebuilding, or something in between."
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The judge, however, ruled that Beatty has not shown enough evidence to force the board to allow her to vote on anything during the meeting. Theboard consists ofmembers appointed by the president as well as ex-officio members like Beatty designated by Congress that include a bipartisan mix of lawmakers, administration officials and D.C. government leaders.
In response to a request for comment, Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement: "Despite her claims in court, Congresswoman Beatty was invited to the board meeting and is welcome to attend. The Center will abide by the court's ruling and is happy to provide information demonstrating the need for closure and renovations."
The judge did not rule on Beatty's request to stop the temporary closure and renovation of the Kennedy Center. A further briefing and hearing on that matter is likely down the line.
"The Kennedy Center is a national cultural institution created by Congress and supported by the American public," Beattysaid in a statementafter the judge's ruling. "No president has the authority to shut Congress out of the governance of the Kennedy Center, much less unilaterally rename or demolish it. We will not stand by while an important part of our national heritage is jeopardized, and I intend to make that clear at next week's board meeting."
Beattyfiled her lawsuit in Decemberover a move from Trump's hand-picked board to add his name to the official name of the venue — the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. That name was established through congressional legislation and signed into law. That lawsuit alleged that during the meeting where the vote for the name change took place, which Beatty attended virtually, she was muted after identifying herself.
Monday's meeting comes as Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell is stepping down from his post after a tumultuous year that saw various artists cancel their performances at the venue over the name change sought by Trump. The president on Friday announced that Grenell, a longtime Trump ally, would be replaced by Matt Floca, vice president of facilities operations at the center.