Topline
A Senate Democrat will introduce legislation as early as next week seeking to block presidential memorials—including the embattled Kennedy Center—from demolition, marking congressional intervention in the battle over the arts venue that has largely played out in federal courts so far.
The Kennedy Center abruptly shut its doors to visitors last week. (Photo by Graeme Sloan/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., plans to introduce a bill that would prohibit the demolition of presidential memorials that have been designated by Congress, which would also extend protections to other monuments like the Lincoln Memorial.
“A memorial to honor a President of the United States designated by an Act of Congress may not be demolished unless authorized by an Act of Congress,” the text of the bill, shared with Forbes, reads.
The bill defines demolition as the “intentional razing, destroying, or wrecking of an entire building or structure or a substantial portion of a building or structure.”
Merkley may introduce the bill and seek unanimous consent as early as Monday, his deputy communications director Justin Krakoff told Forbes.
Axios reported Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, will cosponsor the bill.
The bill follows President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to demolish the Kennedy Center arts venue in Washington, D.C. if a federal court does not allow it to inscribe Trump’s name on the venue, which the institution has argued is necessary for fundraising efforts.
Is Trump Planning To Demolish The Kennedy Center?
Trump has made numerous threats to demolish the Kennedy Center in recent weeks, though Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, the plaintiff in the ongoing federal court case, has challenged his ability to do so in court. Last week, district judge Christopher R. Cooper ruled the Kennedy Center must provide at least 30 days notice if it plans to make major changes to its plans for venue repairs, including demolition. The ruling came weeks after the Trump administration raised the prospect of demolishing the Kennedy Center in a court filing. Lawyers representing the administration argued the Kennedy Center must bear Trump’s name for donors to contribute, arguing without it, the venue may need to be “taken down, with a determination to follow on what to build on the site.” Trump told reporters last week the Kennedy Center must recognize him in some way, because “if we don’t do that it’s going to close, it’ll end up being ripped down.” Pictures also went viral last week of Trump reading a placard that appears to say, “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED.” Beatty submitted the photo to the court last week, and Cooper ruled she may seek discovery about it.
What’s The Latest In The Kennedy Center Legal Battle?
The Kennedy Center court case is ongoing, with deadlines set through October for the discovery process and additional motions and filings. The Kennedy Center’s executive director Matt Floca said in a court filing earlier this week he chose to extend the Kennedy Center’s closure, which he said is necessary for emergency repairs, through Sept. 30, which will be reevaluated on a weekly basis. Beatty, though, has previously said in court the closure is a “plain pretext to justify shutting down the Center permanently.” The Kennedy Center abruptly shut its doors last week after a judge ruled it cannot inscribe Trump’s name on the venue’s marble facade, saying it would violate a prior order he issued blocking the center from renaming itself after Trump, as Congress designated it as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy. But the venue has argued the sudden closure was necessary, citing safety concerns. Earlier this month, a piece of ceiling plaster collapsed in the Grand Foyer, which Trump said could have “killed” someone.
key background
Trump launched a takeover of the Kennedy Center early in his second term, purging the board and replacing members with allies as he lambasted the venue for hosting allegedly “woke” programming. The board appointed Trump chairman and attempted to rename the venue the “Trump-Kennedy Center,” but Beatty sued to block the name change and Cooper ruled in May the venue must remove Trump’s name. Cooper said Congress has the authority to change the venue’s name, saying the center’s founding law “makes crystal clear that the Center is to be named for President Kennedy.”
further reading
Kennedy Center Ordered To Provide 30 Days Notice Before Potential Demolition (Forbes)
Kennedy Center Extends Closure Until Sept. 30 And Will Reevaluate Weekly (Forbes)
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