Fencing Surrounds Kennedy Center

Fencing went up Wednesday around the main Kennedy Center building, a day after the board aligned with President Trump voted to close most of the performing arts center for repairs. The board's vote on Tuesday came after a federal judge blocked the institution from returning President Donald Trump's name to the building. The next day, the AP reports, a Democratic congresswoman who is a trustee sought an emergency court hearing to prevent what she called the "unlawful closing." Trump maintains the closure is needed for safety repairs. But he said the repairs, which Congress has allocated $257 million to cover, would only happen if the board was allowed to move forward with his plans to add his name to the building.

Activists who have opposed the closure said there was no vehicle or pedestrian access to the building on Wednesday. A reporter who approached the main building was told by a security guard that it was closed. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex-officio member of the Kennedy Center board who has led efforts to keep Trump's name off the building, requested an emergency court hearing on the closure. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the Kennedy Center to respond to Beatty's motion by Thursday morning, saying he would schedule a prompt hearing if necessary.