The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington remains closed to the public amid safety concerns, yet the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) continues to rehearse within the building’s main concert hall. Despite President Donald Trump’s recent warnings that the center is in a “virtual state of collapse” and poses significant danger to anyone entering, approximately 100 NSO musicians have maintained regular rehearsals, preparing for upcoming regional performances.
Trump has publicly characterized the center as unsafe, referencing an incident last month when a large piece of ceiling plaster fell following a storm, narrowly missing a security guard. He has described other hazards, including compromised concrete garage decks, sections of the roof at risk of collapse, and “electrical explosions.” Nevertheless, Kennedy Center management states the concert hall where rehearsals occur is deemed safe for essential staff and NSO members, although it remains closed to the general public.
Musicians interviewed as they entered the building expressed a focus on their work rather than the politics surrounding the center’s condition. Some said the orchestra’s presence inside the center challenges the administration’s portrayal of the building’s problems as dire. However, both orchestra members and management emphasized caution, noting that all personnel follow designated safe routes and avoid restricted areas.
The ongoing situation stems from significant changes following Trump’s second presidential term, during which he replaced Kennedy Center board members and assumed the chairmanship himself. This move was followed by his insistence on delaying planned renovations until the center bore his name on its façade, along with suggestions that the entire facility could be demolished. A $257 million congressional appropriation for renovation was approved over a year ago, yet critics question why no substantive repairs have been undertaken and suspect that the phased closure may be intended to circumvent a court order requiring the center to remain open.
The closure and administrative upheaval have had tangible effects on the center’s resident ensembles. Attendance at NSO concerts has declined by as much as 50%, and notable artists, including composer Philip Glass and Grammy-winning banjo player Béla Fleck, withdrew from scheduled performances. The Washington National Opera departed the center entirely. Meanwhile, the NSO remains dependent on the Kennedy Center’s financial support, receiving an estimated $17 million this year to offset losses in ticket sales and donations.
Compounding financial and logistical challenges, the orchestra faced delays in approval of its 2026-27 budget, hampering its ability to secure alternative rehearsal and performance venues. Local patrons responded by forming Save Our Symphonies, a support group that organized volunteer concerts in nontraditional spaces to raise awareness and funds without engaging in political controversy.
Following months of uncertainty, the Kennedy Center board approved the current season’s budget in August, allowing the NSO to move forward with planned performances and ticket sales. The ensemble last month signed a new four-year contract, signaling hopes for stability despite ongoing difficulties. At a recent season-opening event in North Bethesda, Maryland, conductor Gianandrea Noseda acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the season’s prospects.
As the dispute over the Kennedy Center’s future continues, the National Symphony Orchestra’s decision to rehearse in the facility underscores the complex balance between safety concerns, political conflict, and the practical needs of sustaining a major cultural institution.