Kennedy Center Begins Layoffs Ahead of Two-Year Closure, WaPo Reports

Source: US News & World Report/Reuters

March 26, 2026, at 2:17 p.m.


March 26 (Reuters) - The ⁠Kennedy ⁠Center began layoffs ⁠on Thursday ahead of ​U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to ‌shut down the ‌institution for two ⁠years, ⁠the Washington Post reported, citing multiple people at ​the center.

It is unclear how many staffers were affected, but ​the number appears to be in ⁠the ⁠double digits and ⁠affected multiple ​departments, the Post said.

The Washington arts ​institution, whose ⁠board in December voted to rename it the Donald J. Trump and the ⁠John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing ⁠Arts, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump said in February he planned to close the center for two years for reconstruction starting in July.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2026-03-26/kennedy-center-begins-layoffs-ahead-of-two-year-closure-wapo-reports