A judge says the Kennedy Center must update him on its plans — and address that tarp

Performing Arts A judge says the Kennedy Center must update him on its plans — and address that tarp June 24, 20262:02 PM ET Anastasia Tsioulcas A tarp covers the facade of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on June 13. A federal judge has asked the arts complex's leadership to explain the purpose of the tarp and the surrounding scaffolding. Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images On Wednesday, the federal judge overseeing the Kennedy Center lawsuit ordered the center to give him a status report on the center's operation and programming within the next few weeks. Judge Christopher R. Cooper also said that the Kennedy Center must explain the purpose and status of the tarp and scaffolding that have been placed over the front of the arts complex, where until recently both President Trump and President John F. Kennedy's names were both displayed. In a directive issued last Tuesday, Judge Cooper had given Kennedy Center administrators three days to update him on the arts complex's immediate plans regarding construction, programming and public access. Trump, who now serves as the center's chairman, had announced July 5 as the date the venue would close for major renovations. Sponsor Message National Kennedy Center removes Trump's name from the building Last Friday, on Cooper's due date, lawyers for the Kennedy Center filed a request asking for an extension. In that filing, Matt Floca, who was promoted as the center's president and CEO in March, said that the Kennedy Center's current management intends to present its board with "an array of options" for trustees to vote on at their next meeting on an unspecified date in mid-July. According to Floca, the options are a complete closure for extensive renovations; a partial closure "enabling some continued public access and limited programming" while some renovations are undertaken; and "a highly limited series of phased...