The Kennedy Center has initiated a wave of staff layoffs as it prepares for a two-year closure for renovations, following a decision by Donald Trump. The workforce reductions have affected a double-digit number of employees across several core departments, including programming, development, advertising, marketing and the office of the president, according to The Washington Post.
Among those dismissed were Nick Meade and Rick Loughery, senior leaders installed by Richard Grenell, the Trump-appointed official overseeing the centre's transition. Roma Daravi, the centre's vice president of public relations, confirmed the moves, stating that “staffing decisions will support the broader move toward a successful closure for renovations.”
The facility is slated to begin construction in early July and reopen in 2028. In a February email to staff, Grenell warned that departments would be scaled down or “totally reduced” during the construction phase, describing it as a “total renovation.” Internal staff members have expressed significant concern, with one anonymous employee telling The Post that “the language of ‘renovation’ masks a leadership failure that has driven down ticket sales, donor confidence, and artistic participation,” calling it a “self-inflicted” crisis.
The Trump administration maintains the closure is a logical response to $250 million in deferred maintenance resulting from “decades of gross negligence.” During a February press briefing, Trump insisted he was “not ripping down” the memorial, adding, “I’ll be using the steel.” This move is the latest by the president to exert influence over the cultural landmark, which serves as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy. Trump has replaced board members with loyalists and rebranded the centre to include his name.
