The Trump administration is warning that Washington’s Kennedy Center could ultimately face demolition and be replaced by an outdoor amphitheater if efforts to renovate and preserve the deteriorating performing arts complex are prevented from moving forward, according to a new federal court filing.
The possibility was outlined by administration attorneys in legal papers filed in an ongoing lawsuit and first reported Tuesday by NBC News. The filing does not indicate that the administration currently has a concrete plan to demolish the Kennedy Center, but presents such an outcome as a potential consequence if restoration efforts fail.
The legal filing is part of a lawsuit brought by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who holds a seat on the Kennedy Center’s board because of her congressional position. Beatty filed suit last year seeking to have President Donald Trump’s name removed from the building.
Attorneys representing the administration contend that Trump’s efforts to raise money and restore the landmark are essential to preventing the aging structure from falling into further disrepair.
“Without those efforts, the Center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down,” the filing said.
If demolition eventually became necessary, administration officials said the valuable Potomac River site could be redeveloped. One possibility would be construction of a major open-air amphitheater overlooking the river, a concept they noted has circulated for years.
The filing conceded that replacing the Kennedy Center with such a venue would “fail to adequately honor President John F. Kennedy” but argued that an amphitheater would be considerably easier and cheaper to construct, operate and maintain.
