Eight cultural heritage and architectural organizations sue Trump administration over Kennedy Center plans

A coalition of eight cultural heritage and architectural organizations represented by three law firms filed suit in federal district court seeking to require the Trump administration to comply with historic preservation laws and secure Congressional authorization before altering the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The filing follows statements by Trump that he may take the building “down to the steel” during a two-year closure beginning July 4. Plaintiffs cited the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, which was undertaken without a formal review or Congressional approval.

The plaintiffs include: the American Institute of Architects; the American Society of Landscape Architects; the Committee of 100 on the Federal City; the DC Preservation League; Docomomo US; the National Trust for Historic Preservation; the Society of Architectural Historians; and The Cultural Landscape Foundation.

The lawsuit, and a request for a preliminary injunction that plaintiffs expect to file soon, will ask the court to halt demolition or substantial alteration until the government completes required public review and consultation processes, according to an AIA news release.

The plaintiffs are not challenging routine repairs and maintenance, for which Congress recently appropriated $257 million. They are seeking to “prevent irreversible harm to defining architectural and historic features without the process and authority required by law.”

“Completed in 1971, the Kennedy Center is among the most prominent cultural institutions in the United States and an iconic architectural treasure,” the release says. “The building and grounds have been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, which triggers processes and protections under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).”