Kennedy Center Tarps Stay Up For 2+ Months

The Kennedy Center has kept tarps in front of its facade for over two months, citing ongoing construction as the reason. The center claims the tarps are necessary for structural repairs to the overhead soffit, which will enable further repairs to be made while minimizing delay, public disruption, and cost redundancies.

Rep. Joyce Beatty has accused the Kennedy Center of a 'childish refusal to accept this Court's ruling' to remove President Donald Trump's name from the facade. Beatty argues that the Kennedy Center's justification for keeping the tarps up makes 'no sense' because the soffits are about 20 feet above the scaffolding, and the tarp leaves only the center's iconic name obscured.

The Kennedy Center has committed to not inscribing Trump's name on the facade until at least September 8. However, the center has not provided a timeline for the removal of the tarps, which has prompted criticism from Beatty. The National Symphony Orchestra has also announced its new season, which will be held away from the Kennedy Center.

The Kennedy Center and Rep. Beatty filed a joint status report to comply with a court order, which asked the center to inform the court about its future plans for construction and operations, as well as the status of the tarp and scaffolding in front of the venue. The court order is part of an ongoing lawsuit related to the removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center.

## Why it matters The Kennedy Center's decision to keep the tarps up has sparked controversy and criticism from Rep. Beatty, who argues that the center is defying a court order. The center's commitment to not inscribing Trump's name on the facade until September 8 has not alleviated concerns about the tarps, which have been in place for over two months. The situation has also affected the National Symphony Orchestra, which has announced its new season will be held away from the Kennedy Center.

The stakes are high, with the Kennedy Center's reputation and compliance with court orders hanging in the balance. The center's actions have been seen as a defiance of Congress' order that the Kennedy Center serve as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the matter and what the ultimate outcome will be for the Kennedy Center and its operations.