The Kennedy Center told roughly 2,000 staff in a brief memo that a planned two‑year closure and “total renovation” beginning in July could lead to reduced operations and job cuts. Employees say the announcement masks deeper leadership and financial problems after governance changes under President Trump coincided with falling ticket sales and artist boycotts. Officials point to inherited debt of about $100 million and argue the overhaul is needed; cost estimates range from roughly $200 million to as high as $300 million.
Kennedy Center Staff Blast Leadership Over ‘Stupid and Cruel’ Two‑Year Renovation Plan
Aaron Schwartz / Getty Images(Aaron Schwartz)
Kennedy Center employees say a terse, vague memo from Ric Grenell — the Trump appointee overseeing the performing arts institution’s overhaul — has left many staffers worried that their jobs could be cut as the center shutters for a planned two‑year renovation.
In an email seen by The Washington Post, Grenell told roughly 2,000 employees that a “total renovation of the building beginning in early July” would mean departments “function on a much smaller scale” and that some units could be reduced or put on hold until preparations to reopen in 2028. The message prompted anger and alarm among staff already reeling from a drop in ticket sales and artist participation.
Trump started his Kennedy Center makeover last February. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Staff Reaction
Anonymous staffers told The Post the memo reads like preparation for mass layoffs and institutional contraction. One employee accused leadership of using “renovation” language to mask failures that have driven down ticket sales, donor confidence, and artistic participation. “This is all so stupid and cruel,” another staffer said.
“There is no way to read this message as anything other than preparation for mass layoffs and institutional contraction.” — Anonymous Kennedy Center Staffer
Background And Financials
Officials at the Kennedy Center say they inherited about $100 million in debt and contend recent changes have improved the institution’s financial footing. The White House and center leadership argue the overhaul is necessary to secure the center’s future.
Protesters gather in front of the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after President Donald Trump's name was added to the facade. / The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im
President Trump has estimated the renovation will cost roughly $200 million; a Wall Street Journal analysis suggests the true price could be about $100 million higher, putting the potential total near $300 million.
Politics, Name Change And Governance
Staffers and observers link the center’s struggles to governance changes after Mr. Trump replaced the venue’s board and assumed the role of chairman earlier this year. Ticket sales reportedly plunged and many artists declined to perform following those changes. People familiar with the situation told reporters that even Grenell was surprised by the president’s abrupt decision to close the building for two years.
Trump leads a board meeting at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts last March. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
The proposal to attach the president’s name to the venue — referred to in reporting as the “Trump Kennedy Center” idea — was put forward by board member Sergio Gor. Trustees ultimately voted unanimously to approve the name change, though some privately expressed frustration.
Official Responses
In defense of the president’s involvement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Wall Street Journal that Mr. Trump’s close engagement is a positive. The Kennedy Center and the White House were contacted for comment.
What’s next: The center says it will provide as much clarity and advance notice as possible about staffing adjustments, but employees remain anxious about permanent or temporary changes during the renovation period.
Help us improve.
