The Kennedy Center desperately needs a comprehensive renovation after decades of neglect, and temporary closure ensures faster, higher-quality construction without audience interruptions. Congress appropriated a historic $257 million specifically for these overdue repairs. Keeping the facility open would compromise construction quality and unnecessarily extend timelines unnecessarily.

President John F. Kennedy believed America would fulfill its promise of justice and equal rights for all. To honor that vision and his sacrifice, Congress created the Kennedy Center as a memorial, built by the people for the people. Though this trespass on the will hurts, Kennedy reminds us that Americans should not be distracted, as nations are defined not by buildings, but by their people.