Kennedy Center votes to shut down operations for 2 years and names a new
president
[March 17, 2026]
By STEVEN SLOAN, HILLEL ITALIE and DARLENE SUPERVILLE
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedy Center's board of directors voted on
Monday to shut down operations for two years following this summer's
July 4 celebrations. The widely expected decision comes in the wake of
numerous resignations and cancellations during President Donald Trump's
second term, although Trump himself has cited the need for repairs as a
reason for the closure.
“We’re going to ensure it remains the finest performing arts facility of
its kind anywhere in the world," Trump told reporters at the White House
before the board met Monday.
The board also voted to install Matt Floca as CEO and executive
director, replacing Trump ally Richard Grenell, who oversaw far-reaching
changes at the venue that prompted an outcry from many artists and
exacerbated the operation's financial challenges. Trump praised Grenell
on Monday, saying he had been a longtime friend, and wished Floca “good
luck with everything.”
The Kennedy Center said the vote was unanimous, though Rep. Joyce Beatty
didn't cast a vote. The Ohio Democrat is an ex officio member of the
board and sued to preclude the Trump administration from excluding her
from Monday's meeting. Over the weekend, a federal judge ruled she was
entitled to participate in the meeting but didn't require that the board
allow her to vote.
Trump hosted the board meeting at the White House in a reminder of the
influence he has held over the Kennedy Center during his second term.
Shortly after returning to office last year, Trump ousted the center's
previous leadership and replaced it with a hand-picked board of trustees
that named him chairman. He also brought in Grenell, who served in a
variety of capacities during Trump's first term, when the president
mostly ignored the Kennedy Center.
The center's lineup has since included more Trump-friendly programming,
including serving as the venue for the premiere of first lady Melania
Trump's documentary, "Melania." The board also announced it had renamed
the facility the Trump Kennedy Center, a change scholars and lawmakers
say must be initiated by Congress, and physically added the president's
name to the building's facade.
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 The fallout from the arts community
was swift and intense. Actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck and
author Louise Penny were among the numerous artists who withdrew
from appearances, while consultants such as musician Ben Folds and
singer Renée Fleming resigned. Earlier this month, the executive
director of the National Symphony Orchestra, Jean Davidson, left to
head the Los Angeles-based Wallis Annenberg Center for the
Performing Arts.
Without mentioning the abandoned performances, Trump said in
February he would close the Kennedy Center to fix what he has
described as a dilapidated building.
Ahead of the closure, Grenell warned staff about impending cuts that
will leave “skeletal teams.”
Floca, Grenell's successor, had been serving as vice president of
operations. According to his LinkedIn page, he joined the Kennedy
Center in January 2024, during the Biden administration.
A center press release from the time describes him as “an
experienced facilities management professional with a construction
management background and an appreciation for whole building design
principles.”
Previous experience for Floca listed on LinkedIn includes a handful
of positions with the District of Columbia government, among them
associate director of sustainability and energy and director of
facilities management. He graduated from Louisiana State University
in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction
management.
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Italie reported from New York.
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