A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the Trump administration to make public a presentation used by Kennedy Center officials as they considered closing the building for two years, while allowing the government to propose limited redactions to a separate 163-page renovation plan.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper ordered the “Delta Construction Group PowerPoint” unsealed in full and said the administration must propose narrowly tailored redactions to the “JLL Plan” by Oct. 14. Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex officio Kennedy Center board member who is seeking to halt the center’s closure, will have until Oct. 19 to respond to the proposed redactions.
The documents were used by the Kennedy Center board during an Aug. 13 meeting about whether to close the center’s main building for renovations.
The administration had argued that the JLL Plan contained sensitive information, including floor plans, structural schematics, entrances and exits, and restricted-access areas that could pose a security risk if released publicly.
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But Cooper said the government had not overcome the strong presumption of public access to court records. He noted that news organizations had already reported portions of the plan and that the administration itself is relying on it in the case.
The ruling is the latest development in Beatty’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s control of the Kennedy Center. Beatty has also sought documents and testimony concerning Trump’s involvement in decisions surrounding the center, while the Justice Department has fought her discovery requests.
The Delta presentation is expected to become public sometime this week. The JLL Plan will follow after the court reviews the administration’s proposed redactions.
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