As the Trump administration prepares to close… Kennedy Center renewal for two years, The president of the Washington Performing Arts Center has warned his staff of impending cuts that will leave “skeletal teams.”
In a Tuesday memo obtained by The Associated Press, Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell told staff that “it is clear that departments will operate on a much smaller scale with some units reduced entirely or suspended as we begin preparations to reopen in 2028,” promising “permanent or temporary adjustments for almost all.”
A Kennedy Center spokesperson declined to comment on Wednesday.
Over the next few months, department heads will “assess needs and make decisions about what these structural teams will leave in place during the facility and the closure and construction phase,” he wrote. Grenell said the leadership “will provide as much clarity and advance notice as possible.”
The Kennedy Center is scheduled to close its doors in early July. Few details have been released about what the renovations will look like since President Donald Trump announced his plan at the beginning of February. Neither Trump nor Grenell provided evidence to support claims that the building was in poor condition, and last October, Trump announced He pledged It will remain open during renovations.
It’s unclear exactly how many employees currently work at the center, but the 2025 tax return said nearly 2,500 people were employed during calendar year 2023. A request for comment sent to the Kennedy Center Arts Workers Union, which represents artists and arts professionals affiliated with the center, was not immediately responded to.
Major artists and groups have left or canceled appearances since Trump Expulsion of the center’s leadership A year ago and He added his name to the building In December. The Washington Post, which first reported on Grenell’s memo, also noted a significant decline in ticket revenue that — along with private philanthropy — makes up the center’s operating budget. Officials have not yet clarified whether long-standing traditions such as the Mark Twain Comedy Award or the ceremony honoring lifetime contributions to the arts will continue while the center is closed.
The Kennedy Center was first established as a national cultural facility during the Eisenhower administration, in the 1950s. President John F. Kennedy led a fundraising initiative, and the not-yet-built center was named in his honor after his assassination. It opened in 1971 and became a landmark showcase for theatre, music and dramatic performances, enjoying bipartisan support until Trump returned to office last year.
“This renovation represents a generational investment in our future,” Grenell wrote. “When we reopen our doors, we will do so as a stronger organization — one that honors our heritage while expanding our impact.”