On March 23, an unprecedented coalition of eight major cultural heritage and architectural organizations, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit seeks to halt planned alterations to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts until the government complies with federal historic preservation laws and secures Congressional authorization. The legal action was prompted by the President’s suggestions that the iconic 1971 building could be stripped “down to the steel” during a scheduled two-year closure starting in July 2026.

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 organizations argue that the Kennedy Center is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, triggering mandatory protections under the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. They emphasize that while they do not oppose routine maintenance, they aim to prevent irreversible damage to the site’s architectural integrity. 

This lawsuit represents a rare unification of regional and national groups concerned that the administration’s actions threaten longstanding federal protections for historic sites. The case is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges bringing together three law firms that have previously sued to enforce comliance with legally required review processes for historic federal properties.

Read the joint press release, the full legal complaint and an FAQ document on the Docomomo US announcement.