In the ongoing litigation over the renaming of the Kennedy Center, the Department of Justice made a startling assertion tucked right into page two of its latest brief: if Donald Trump is barred from adding his name and securing private donor recognition, the building will fall into “terminal structural decline,” face demolition, and be replaced by an outdoor amphitheater.
Can an administration actually do that? As a matter of federal law, the answer is no.
The Kennedy Center was established by an Act of Congress as the sole living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. The Board of Trustees operates under a Congressionally mandated trust to maintain and administer the site. An executive trustee cannot unilaterally destroy or rewrite the purpose of property created by statute. Tearing it down requires an act of Congress — not executive fiat.
Watch above for the full legal breakdown, and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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— Dave, AKA Florida LawMan
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