Anonymous whistleblowers allege Kennedy Center director Matt Floca halted April plans to fix leaks despite $9.3 million in roofing funds. After ceiling plaster fell September 4, the center said it would temporarily close until September 30 to assess safety risks.
Floca said the center had known for years that the roof overhang leaked but did not learn until this summer how far the damage had spread inside. He said the change was in how the work would be procured and delivered, not a decision that repairs were unnecessary.
Separately, Trump had announced that the center would close for about two years for renovations, with the shutdown set to begin July 4; a federal judge temporarily blocked that move. Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty's ongoing lawsuit seeks to prevent Trump's name from being added to the center.
