Story perspectives

Judge to Decide on Beatty's Bid Against Trump’s Kennedy Center Closure

3/14/2026

Center

Beatty Challenges Trump

A federal judge will rule on Rep. Joyce Beatty's bid to block U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for a two-year renovation starting July 4.
Beatty argues the closure is a vanity project.
The Trump administration says Beatty may attend a Kennedy Center board meeting but cannot vote.
Weyco Group Inc., owner of Florsheim, sues the Trump administration over tariffs, seeking refunds.

Left

DNC Demands Transparency

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) filed a lawsuit seeking transparency on potential deployment of federal officers on election day.
The DNC says the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense ignored 11 FOIA requests.
U.S. President Donald Trump has floated taking over elections, with advisers discussing a national emergency.
The DNC will use all available tools to prevent voter suppression and intimidation ahead of the midterms.

History

Historical Context

In 2017, the Trump administration proposed significant budget cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, igniting debate over federal funding for cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971. This controversy reflects ongoing tensions regarding federal oversight, paralleling the Democratic National Committee's push for transparency from the Department of Justice, highlighting concerns about the integrity of both artistic and democratic processes.

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Beatty Challenges Trump

A federal judge will rule on Rep. Joyce Beatty's bid to block U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to close the Kennedy Center for a two-year renovation starting July 4.
Beatty argues the closure is a vanity project.
The Trump administration says Beatty may attend a Kennedy Center board meeting but cannot vote.
Weyco Group Inc., owner of Florsheim, sues the Trump administration over tariffs, seeking refunds.

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