Lawyers for the Trump administration warned in a federal court filing that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts could deteriorate into an unsafe structure requiring demolition if a planned $250 million renovation does not proceed.

The 21-page filing submitted late Monday by Justice Department attorneys responded to a lawsuit by Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who seeks to block the center's board from inscribing President Donald Trump's name on the building's facade. The document described the venue as "structurally unsound, fundamentally unsafe, and embarrassing to the Nation's Capital."

"Without those efforts, the center will deteriorate further into an unsafe, decrepit structure that will be required to be taken down," the filing stated. It added that a determination would then follow on what to build on the site, such as a large outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Potomac River that has been proposed for many years.

The board, composed largely of Trump appointees, voted earlier this month to close the center for up to two years to complete the renovations. The project includes upgrades to performance spaces, plumbing, elevators, and other infrastructure. The administration has secured $258 million in congressional funding for capital improvements and attracted new donors.

Trump's lawyers highlighted the president's background in real estate and construction as making him "uniquely qualified" to oversee the work. They argued that without his involvement and the associated recognition, donors would withdraw support, plunging the center into a "financial and structural death spiral."

The Kennedy Center opened in 1971 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Critics of the renovation plans, including Beatty, have challenged the name changes and closure as exceeding the board's authority. A federal judge previously blocked an earlier attempt to close the venue.

Opposition attorneys called the demolition reference a "not-so-subtle threat" and said they would respond in court. A hearing on the latest injunction request is scheduled for Thursday.

The filing represents the latest development in ongoing legal disputes over the center's management and future since Trump returned to office. The administration maintains that the building requires immediate attention to remain viable.