Kennedy Center halts public tours amid criticism of Trump-era cuts

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced a temporary pause on its public tours, directing volunteer guides to stop leading tours until further notice. The suspension follows a New York Times report that described a "gutting" of the institution during the Trump administration, citing massive staff reductions, loss of paid audiences and programming, and deteriorating facilities such as an empty opera house pit and neglected terrace gardens.

Kennedy Center director of the volunteer program Brooks Boeke declined to comment when asked about the pause, replying, "How did you find out?" A spokesperson, P. J. Elliott, said the Center is reviewing campus‑wide tour routes to ensure a better visitor experience. The report also recalled Trump’s failed attempt to rename the Center after himself, which was blocked by courts.