Judge Christopher Cooper opened a federal hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday to weigh a legal challenge against the Trump administration's plan to rename and shutter the Kennedy Center. Representative Joyce Beatty alleges that the move to close the facility for two years unlawfully bypassed Congressional authority in a Washington D.C. courtroom. The lawsuit seeks a court order to stop the shutdown and prevent the executive branch from circumventing the legislative process.

The Kennedy Center board met at 12:30 p.m. to coordinate the necessary closure of the institution. Internal memos indicate the session focused exclusively on the shutdown and the review of 10 recommendations to add Donald Trump's name to the building's facade, as board members argue the facility will go bankrupt without the rebranding.