The Kennedy Center faces a substantial financial penalty following its failed lawsuit against a longtime performer who withdrew from the venue in protest last year.
Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier on Monday ordered the Washington, D.C., arts center to pay $252,479.70 to Chuck Redd, a jazz vibraphonist and drummer who had hosted an annual Christmas Eve performance at the Kennedy Center for nearly two decades before canceling last December. The ruling covers attorneys' fees and other legal costs incurred by Redd.
Redd withdrew from his scheduled performance after the Kennedy Center added President Trump's name to the building's exterior in December. The center responded by threatening to sue Redd for $1 million in damages, alleging breach of contract.
In June, Judge Bosier threw out the Kennedy Center's lawsuit, siding with Redd's legal team. The dismissal came through a motion invoking the district's anti-SLAPP law, which shields individuals from lawsuits aimed at suppressing speech on matters of public concern.
Lisa J. Banks, one of Redd's attorneys, defended the court's decision in a statement. "No citizen should have to spend time and money fending off baseless and politically motivated lawsuits filed by the Trump Administration," Banks told NPR on Tuesday.
The Kennedy Center did not respond to NPR's request for comment on Tuesday.
The controversy over Trump's name on the building has since been resolved through separate legal action. A federal court ruling led the center to remove the president's name from the facade in June. Trump, who serves as chairman of the Kennedy Center, had replaced the institution's previous president, board chair, and board members with allies and supporters in February 2025.
The Kennedy Center's future operations remain clouded in uncertainty. Public programming and educational offerings have been largely halted. Trump had previously proposed shutting down the facility starting July 5 for a two-year renovation period, but Federal District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper has demanded that the center's leadership provide detailed information about construction timelines, programming plans, and public access arrangements.
Judge Cooper granted the board additional time to conduct research and hold a vote on these critical decisions. The board is scheduled to convene this month to determine a path forward. However, The Washington Post reported last week that Democratic members of the board, such as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), had not been provided with any revised evaluations or proposals ahead of the upcoming meeting.
NPR reached out to Sen. Whitehouse's office for updated comment but did not receive an immediate response.
