Biden-appointed general trustees removed; Richard Grenell installed as interim executive director

Personnel actionEOP

Date
Actor
President Trump; Office of Presidential Personnel
Agency
Executive Office of the President (EOP)
Type
Personnel action
Section
SUPPLEMENT: THE KENNEDY CENTER TAKEOVER IS ABSENT FROM THE CULTURAL-INSTITUTIONS RECORD, THOUGH THE SMITHSONIAN, NEA, NEH, IMLS, AND NPS ACTIONS ARE ALL COVERED

Summary

Removes the general trustees appointed by the prior administration, ends David M. Rubenstein's tenure as board chairman, and names Richard Grenell — a former Acting Director of National Intelligence and presidential envoy — interim executive director of the Kennedy Center. Grenell had publicly criticized the Center's drag and LGBTQ programming and stated he would set the performance slate. New trustees appointed in the following days included senior administration officials and political allies.

Status

In effect as to the board replacement. Grenell served until March 2026 (see 2026-03-16). The lawfulness of the board's composition and of its disenfranchisement of ex officio trustees was litigated in Beatty v. Trump (see 2026-05-29).

As recorded in the data of . Check the sources for anything newer.

Sources