Imposing doors at the Washington D.C. arts venue officially closed to the public on Sept. 17, marking the start of a 2 year structural repair project approved by the center's board. President Donald Trump warned that the building could be "ripped down" unless he intervenes to save it, a move he conditioned on having his name added to the institution. Attorneys for Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) have since filed a notice with the court alerting Judge Christopher Cooper that the administration is considering the demolition of the center.

The closure follows a legal dispute over the removal of Trump's name from the facade, which was ordered by the court in May. Rep. Beatty, a trustee, has challenged the shuttering of the building, arguing it bypasses Congressional authority. The legal proceedings referenced a 1983 amendment to the law creating the center that permitted naming rights for donors.