A federal judge on Thursday blocked immediate demolition plans at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by requiring the Trump administration to give plaintiffs 30 days' written notice before any major changes, including demolition of the main building.

U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper issued the order in response to an emergency motion filed by Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, a Kennedy Center board member who has sued over the center's governance and operations. The ruling came amid reports that President Trump and aligned board members had discussed closing or altering the facility following earlier court blocks on renaming it.

The order directs the defendants to file a detailed status report with a sworn declaration explaining the need for any temporary closure and emergency repairs. It allows ongoing emergency work but prevents swift action on broader demolition or renovation projects without judicial review.

This latest ruling builds on a May decision by the same judge that blocked a proposed two-year closure for renovations and ordered removal of Trump's name from the center's signage and materials. Cooper determined that only Congress can alter the name established by 1964 law to honor President Kennedy.

Trump has publicly stated that without approval for his preferred changes, the aging facility poses safety risks and may need to be closed or demolished. Attorneys for Beatty cited recent statements and images, including one showing Trump viewing a poster referencing demolition, as evidence of potential circumvention of prior injunctions.

The Kennedy Center board, restructured under Trump, has maintained that significant repairs are necessary due to the building's condition. The new notice requirement ensures any shift toward demolition faces further legal scrutiny in ongoing litigation involving Beatty and preservation groups.