Judge Extends Kennedy Center Case Discovery Period in Washington

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday extended the discovery period in a lawsuit over the Kennedy Center's future, allowing Rep. Joyce Beatty and the government more time to resolve disputes involving renovation plans, records, and executive privilege claims.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper extended discovery through October 23, 2026, after parties reported unresolved disputes over documents connected to proposed renovations and the Kennedy Center board's decisions. According to the court order, the original discovery period was scheduled to end October 9.

The dispute includes a 163-page report prepared by construction company Jones Lang LaSalle and a short presentation about renovation plans. Cooper previously ordered the government to release the presentation and allowed the board to request narrowly limited redactions from the report.

In explaining the extension, the court order said, "Last week, however, the parties informed chambers of several discovery disputes."

The judge also expanded the scope of discovery to include the board's September 15 decision, along with its August 13 decision, to close the main building for repairs and the related decision-making process.

"Discovery extends also to the substance, justification, mechanics, and process of the Board's decision at its September 15 meeting—in addition to its decision at the August 13 meeting—to close the main building of the Center to the public to conduct repairs, as well as the surrounding equities of the decision," said U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper.

Cooper described the broader discovery scope in the context of the parties' existing actions during the case.

"[c]onsistent with how the parties have apparently proceeded through discovery," said U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper.

Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio, has argued that the board improperly withheld information involving Trump's role as chairman of the Kennedy Center board. The government has asserted executive privilege over some requested communications.

The court order described the next stage of the dispute involving presidential communications and materials requested by Beatty.

"[T]he Court directed the parties to memorialize their positions in writing. It further invited Plaintiff to file a motion to compel production of materials and information that she claimed Defendants are improperly withholding on grounds of executive privilege. That information consists of any relevant internal communications that might exist involving President Trump in his capacity as the Chairman of the Kennedy Center Board.

The parties have submitted their position statements. Representative Beatty has also filed her motion to compel on the executive-privilege issue. The government's response is not yet due," said U.S.

District Judge Christopher Cooper.

The government requested additional time to respond to Beatty's filing, describing the submission as lengthy and involving complex legal issues.

"relatively long—25 pages—on a complex and weighty issue of law that warrants a reasonable time to provide a response," said the U.S. government in a court filing.

All Rise News reported that the board opposed releasing the renovation report, while Cooper found that much of the material appeared non-sensitive or already public.

"The vast majority of the JLL Plan appears to contain information that is non-sensitive or already publicly available," said U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper.

The judge allowed the board to propose limited changes to the report, with Cooper stating that any requested removals would need specific support.

"must be narrowly tailored and specifically supported," said U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper.

Beatty's legal team has said the case concerns public officials' handling of a national memorial. The board has said the building closure relates to repairs after a section of plaster fell in the Grand Foyer and separately to a longer renovation plan.

The board's temporary closure has continued to be reviewed weekly, according to All Rise News, while the court considers disputes over the renovation plans.