WASHINGTON — Directors at the Kennedy Center reached a unanimous decision Monday to cease operations for two years after this summer’s Independence Day festivities. The anticipated move follows a wave of artist departures and performance cancellations throughout President Donald Trump’s current administration, though Trump has pointed to necessary building renovations as justification for the temporary closure.
“We’re going to ensure it remains the finest performing arts facility of its kind anywhere in the world,” Trump stated to White House reporters prior to Monday’s board session.
Board members simultaneously selected Matt Floca to serve as the organization’s new CEO and executive director, taking over from Trump associate Richard Grenell. Grenell had implemented sweeping modifications at the cultural institution that sparked significant backlash from the artistic community and worsened the center’s fiscal difficulties. Trump offered praise for Grenell on Monday, describing him as a long-standing friend, while extending his best wishes to Floca “good luck with everything.”
According to the Kennedy Center, the decision received full board support, although Rep. Joyce Beatty abstained from voting. The Democratic representative from Ohio holds ex officio board status and filed legal action to prevent the Trump administration from barring her attendance at Monday’s session. A federal judge ruled over the weekend that she had the right to attend the gathering but stopped short of mandating her voting privileges.
Trump conducted the board meeting at the White House, demonstrating his considerable sway over the Kennedy Center throughout his second presidency. After resuming office last year, Trump removed the institution’s existing leadership and installed his chosen board of trustees, who subsequently appointed him as chairman. He also recruited Grenell, who had fulfilled various roles during Trump’s initial term when the former president largely disregarded the Kennedy Center.
The venue’s programming has since featured more Trump-aligned content, including hosting the debut of first lady Melania Trump’s documentary film “Melania.” Board members also declared they had rechristened the institution as the Trump Kennedy Center, a modification that legal experts and legislators argue requires Congressional approval, and physically mounted the president’s name on the structure’s exterior.
The artistic community’s response was immediate and severe. Performers including actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck, and writer Louise Penny canceled scheduled appearances, while advisors like musician Ben Folds and vocalist Renée Fleming stepped down from their positions. This month, National Symphony Orchestra executive director Jean Davidson departed to lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
Trump announced in February his intention to close the Kennedy Center for repairs to address what he characterized as a deteriorating structure, without acknowledging the canceled performances.
Before the shutdown, Grenell alerted employees about upcoming workforce reductions that would maintain only “skeletal teams.”
Floca, who succeeds Grenell, previously held the position of vice president of operations. His LinkedIn profile indicates he began working at the Kennedy Center in January 2024, during the Biden presidency.
A center announcement from that period characterized him as “an experienced facilities management professional with a construction management background and an appreciation for whole building design principles.”
Floca’s professional history on LinkedIn shows several roles within the District of Columbia government, including associate director of sustainability and energy and director of facilities management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management from Louisiana State University in 2009.
