The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., is closing most of its facilities for safety-related repairs. The board’s decision to shutter the complex occurred on Tuesday, shortly after a federal judge issued a ruling preventing the administration from adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade.

There is a notable disagreement regarding the motivation behind the closure. Vox reports that the administration is effectively shutting down the center because it could not secure the renaming rights, framing the closure as an act of retaliation. Conversely, France24 reports that the board’s official justification for the closure is to conduct necessary safety repairs. However, France24 notes that President Trump has explicitly stated that the release of $257 million in planned renovation funding is contingent upon the facility recognizing his role in the project through a name change.

While the board cites safety concerns as the primary driver for the closure, the timing of the board's vote—occurring only hours after the court injunction—has led to public speculation regarding the influence of the ongoing dispute over the building's identity. The facility remains under scaffolding as the administration and the board navigate the impasse between the court-ordered naming restrictions and the President’s conditions for financial support.