The Kennedy Center board voted on Thursday to close the famed cultural institution for two years for renovations and to re-add President Donald Trump's name to its facade, according to Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the board. The decision, made by a board comprised of Trump's appointees, has drawn immediate criticism from lawmakers who view it as an attempt to circumvent legal rulings.

This vote follows a previous attempt by the board to rename parts of the center and close it for renovations, which was halted by a federal judge. Congress established the Kennedy Center in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Beatty highlighted a statute prohibiting the addition of memorials or plaques to the center, a point previously cited by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper when he ordered Trump's name removed from the building in May.

According to Beatty's statement, the front of the Washington building would read: "The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump." Additionally, an outdoor space is slated to be named "The President Donald J. Trump Plaza." Beatty described the decision as "more of the same" and a "transparent effort to circumvent the Court's ruling, and flies in the face of the statutes that Congress passed."

White House assistant press secretary Liz Huston offered a brief response, stating, "Under President Trump's bold leadership, the Kennedy Center is on its way to becoming the finest cultural institution anywhere in the world." This statement suggests the administration views the board's actions as aligned with its vision for the center.

Norm Eisen, a lawyer representing Beatty, criticized the vote, stating, "A federal judge already rejected the board's unlawful attempt to rename the Kennedy Center, and told Donald Trump's handpicked board that its last closure vote was ill-informed and preordained." He characterized Thursday's vote as "more of the same, and a show of blatant disrespect to the courts."

Judge Cooper had previously invalidated the board's March vote, finding that it had "rubber stamped a hastily made plan" without adequately considering the impacts on the center's programming and finances. He suggested that the trustees could better fulfill their duties by developing a more thorough plan. The board is now required to report to Judge Cooper on the outcome of Thursday's meeting within five days, including their plans for the tarp that currently covers the building's facade.

The legal battles and the board's repeated attempts to associate President Trump's name with the Kennedy Center underscore a broader political and administrative conflict. The core of the dispute lies in the interpretation and enforcement of laws governing memorials and the proper procedures for institutional decision-making.

Unresolved questions remain regarding the board's ultimate strategy and whether this latest vote will withstand further legal scrutiny. The timeline for the renovations and the final appearance of the building's facade are also subject to ongoing legal and administrative processes.