A federal judge on Friday ordered the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and blocked the administration's plan to close the Washington D.C. venue for major renovations.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that the Kennedy Center board "overstepped its statutory bounds" by unilaterally adding Trump's name to the center in March. Cooper wrote that Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name after President John F. Kennedy, and only Congress has the authority to change it. The judge directed the Trump administration to remove all physical signage bearing Trump's name and eliminate references to a "Trump Kennedy Center" from official materials within 14 days.

Cooper also blocked the board's March 16 vote to close the facility for renovations, calling the decision "ill-informed and seemingly preordained" with no regard for legal obligations. The ruling came in response to parallel lawsuits challenging the project, including one filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who serves as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center's board.

Trump has taken significant interest in the Kennedy Center since returning to the White House, installing a handpicked board that named him chairman. The administration had secured $257 million from Congress for renovations and planned a two-year closure starting this summer. In earlier court hearings, attorneys raised concerns about the scope of the renovations, pointing to Trump's statements about "fully exposing" the building's steel skeleton.

Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, said the institution is "confident that on appeal the court will uphold the Board's will to recognize President Trump's historic contributions." She emphasized that the center still requires "urgent and significant restoration" and remains committed to pursuing "every lawful avenue" to complete the project.

Cooper, who was nominated by President Barack Obama, ruled in favor of Beatty's challenge but rejected a separate lawsuit filed by cultural and historic preservation organizations. The Kennedy Center has continued performances at a reduced pace ahead of the planned closure, with several shows including "Moulin Rouge" scheduled for June.