The Kennedy Center board on Friday filed an emergency motion with a federal appeals court seeking to temporarily block a lower court order requiring the removal of President Donald Trump’s name from the historic performing arts venue in Washington, D.C. The legal scramble came as scaffolding appeared around the building’s facade and a court-imposed deadline loomed for compliance.

In a filing submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Kennedy Center requested both a stay pending appeal and an immediate administrative stay. The board argued that physical alterations to the building should not proceed until appellate judges can review the underlying dispute over who controls the institution’s name. The filing specifically asked the court to issue an administrative stay by 7 p.m. Friday.

As of 5:30 p.m. Friday, Trump’s name remained mounted on the Kennedy Center facade, though construction workers had erected scaffolding around portions of the signage. The visible presence of the lettering underscored the urgency of the legal battle unfolding in federal court.

The emergency appeal follows a May 29 ruling by U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who determined that Congress, not the Kennedy Center board, holds authority over the institution’s official name. Cooper ordered the removal of Trump’s name from physical signage, digital materials and all official branding, giving the Center 14 days to comply.

In his lengthy opinion, Judge Cooper concluded that the Kennedy Center’s governing statute makes clear the institution was named for President John F. Kennedy and cannot be formally renamed through unilateral board action. The judge wrote that Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name and only Congress possesses the power to change it.

Earlier Friday, Cooper denied the board’s request to pause enforcement of his ruling while the appeal proceeds. He found that the defendants had not demonstrated either a likelihood of success on appeal or irreparable harm, two key requirements for obtaining a stay.

The Kennedy Center board argued in its emergency filing that forcing the removal and potential reinstallation of signage would impose costs that could not be recovered if the board ultimately prevails on appeal. Beyond financial concerns, the board contended that removing Trump’s name could damage fundraising efforts and create public confusion if the Center’s name changes again following a successful appeal.

The motion also raises broader questions about the board’s authority and whether Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, who brought the lawsuit as an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board, had legal standing to file the case.

Beatty praised Cooper’s original ruling, stating that the Kennedy Center “belongs to the American people, not to Donald Trump.” Her lawsuit challenged the board’s December decision to add Trump’s name to the venue following what the board described as a unanimous vote.

Trump’s name was installed on signage above the existing Kennedy Center lettering shortly after that December vote. The name addition came amid what the Center described as urgent facility needs. Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations Roma Daravi noted that the venue requires significant restoration work.

The Kennedy Center secured $257 million in funding approved by Congress for repairs and restoration. According to the Center, these resources were obtained with President Trump’s support, and officials have warned that the venue faces serious structural challenges that require immediate attention.

Following Cooper’s May 29 decision, Daravi said the board intended to appeal, emphasizing the Center’s commitment to pursuing “every lawful avenue” to maintain the Trump Kennedy Center designation. The board has characterized the restoration funding and name change as interconnected issues tied to the building’s future as a national cultural landmark.

The Kennedy Center, formally known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, opened in 1971 as a living memorial to the 35th president. The venue serves as one of the nation’s premier performing arts institutions and holds a unique position as a presidential memorial authorized by Congress.

The legal dispute highlights tensions between executive authority, congressional power and the governance structure of federally chartered cultural institutions. The outcome could establish precedent for how naming rights at such institutions are determined and whether boards can act independently on such matters.

As of Friday evening, the appeals court had not publicly ruled on the emergency request. The lack of immediate action left unresolved whether Trump’s name would remain in place beyond the court-ordered compliance deadline. The emergency appeal asks the D.C. Circuit to preserve the current status quo while it considers the board’s broader appeal of Cooper’s ruling. Neither the White House nor Kennedy Center representatives provided immediate comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.