Fencing goes up around the main Kennedy Center building after Trump-aligned board votes to close it

Key Points:

• The Kennedy Center was fenced off and mostly closed on Wednesday following a board vote aligned with former President Trump to shut down the performing arts center for repairs, sparking legal challenges from a Democratic trustee who called the closure "unlawful."
• The closure vote came after a federal judge blocked the plan to restore Trump's name to the building, which Trump linked to the repair funding of $257 million allocated by Congress, stating repairs would proceed only if his name was added.
• Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and Kennedy Center board member, sought an emergency court hearing to prevent the closure and alleged attempts to restrict public access, raising concerns the building or access points might be demolished to evade court orders.
• Activists and legal representatives expressed fears the closure could lead to permanent damage or demolition, citing past Trump administration projects like the White House East Wing renovation and other high-profile construction efforts.
• The Kennedy Center's spokesperson cited urgent safety concerns due to infrastructure failures, including a recent ceiling collapse, while family members of John F. Kennedy criticized the ongoing dispute over the naming as a distraction from more pressing issues.