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Unprecedented coalition of cultural heritage and architecture groups sue to require federal review of President Trump’s Kennedy Center plans.

 Three Law Firms Unite to Advance Plaintiffs’ Claims

 Washington, DC – March 23, 2026 – A coalition of eight leading cultural heritage and architectural organizations jointly represented by three law firms today filed suit in federal district court in Washington, DC seeking to require the Trump administration to comply with historic preservation laws and secure Congressional authorization before implementing the President’s plans to further alter the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The filing follows statements by President Trump that he may take the building “down to the steel” during a two-year closure beginning July 4, 2026. Plaintiffs cite the lesson learned when the President assured the American public that the East Wing of the White House would remain untouched during construction of his ballroom—and then approved its complete demolition.

The plaintiffs include: the American Institute of Architects; the American Society of Landscape Architects; the Committee of 100 on the Federal City; the DC Preservation League; Docomomo US; the National Trust for Historic Preservation; the Society of Architectural Historians; and The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Collectively, the organizations have more than one million members and supporters.

Completed in 1971, the Kennedy Center is among the most prominent cultural institutions in the United States and an iconic architectural treasure. The building and grounds have been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, which triggers processes and protections under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Because the Kennedy Center serves both as the nation’s living memorial to President Kennedy and as the United States’ principal national performing arts center, changes to the building and grounds carry cultural and symbolic significance far beyond the nation’s capital.

The lawsuit, and a request for a preliminary injunction that plaintiffs expect to file soon, will ask the court to halt any demolition or substantial alteration until the government completes required public review and consultation processes.

The complaint makes clear that plaintiffs do not challenge routine repairs and maintenance, for which Congress recently appropriated $257 million. Rather, plaintiffs seek to prevent irreversible harm to defining architectural and historic features without the process and authority required by law.

No plaintiff can remember an instance in which so many national and regional organizations have coalesced to defend a single historic building and its grounds, reflecting both the Kennedy Center’s significance and the breadth of concern that the administration’s approach could weaken longstanding federal protections for historic sites nationwide.

The case also brings together for the first time three law firms whose clients have challenged several other high-profile efforts by the administration to alter historic federal properties without following legally required review processes.

In November, Cultural Heritage Partners filed suit to prevent the administration from painting the historic granite façade of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building without public consultation. In December, Foley Hoag challenged plans to construct a large ballroom following demolition of the White House East Wing. In February, Lowell & Associates sued seeking to enjoin the planned redevelopment of the historic East Potomac Golf Course and the dumping of East Wing demolition debris on the site.

Quotes

Rebecca Miller, Executive Director, DC Preservation League:
“The Kennedy Center is not a personal project of any president. It is a national cultural monument built to honor John F. Kennedy and to serve the American people. Federal law requires transparency, expert review, and public participation before it can be fundamentally altered.”

Carol Quillen, President and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation:
“The Kennedy Center is a historically significant architectural icon and a performance venue beloved by millions of Americans. We’re concerned that, as with the White House East Wing, the potential scope of planned changes is understated and will result in irreparable loss. We respectfully urge the Administration to follow all required consultative processes. Doing so will improve the design and enable transparency and public engagement—values befitting a government by the people.”

Greg Werkheiser, Founding Partner, Cultural Heritage Partners:
“The administration is advancing sweeping changes to some of the nation’s most important civic landmarks without transparency or public process. When decisions about America’s heritage are made behind closed doors, the rule of law is the only safeguard.”

Abbe David Lowell, Founding Member, Lowell & Associates:

“This case is not about politics or aesthetics. It is about whether the President can impose major changes to historic buildings while denying the public voice that federal law requires.”

Tad Heuer, Partner, and Greg Craig, Senior Counsel, Foley Hoag:

“We are proud to represent this coalition of cultural heritage and architectural organizations to ensure that the processes in place are followed before irreparable changes are made to an iconic building intended to be a lasting and living memorial to John F. Kennedy.”

Illya Azaroff, President, American Institute of Architects:

“Architects have a responsibility to protect the integrity of our nation’s civic and cultural landmarks. The Kennedy Center is a public asset that must be shaped through transparency, expertise, and the communities it serves.”

Charles A. Birnbaum, Founding President & CEO, The Cultural Landscape Foundation:

“The Kennedy Center campus is a nationally significant example of Modernist design. From its processional arrival experience to its terraces, which afford sweeping views of the Potomac River and civic monuments, landscape architecture is integral to this important cultural  monument.”

Liz Waytkus, Executive Director, Docomomo US

“It is unconscionable that the administration has already begun actions to degrade and irreparably harm the Kennedy Center. Designed by Edward Durell Stone, the building is a masterwork of Modern architecture and one of the most significant Modern buildings in the Washington, D.C., area. Significant alterations to the Kennedy Center would not only compromise an architectural landmark but would undermine a place deeply tied to the nation’s cultural values and to the legacy of leadership that President Kennedy represented.”

Ben Thomas, Executive Director, Society of Architectural Historians:

“SAH, a network of institutions and individuals that focus on the history of the built environment and its impact on society, joins the other seven plaintiffs to urge the administration to submit any proposals to alter the Kennedy Center for proper review and deliberation. Decisions that affect our communal cultural heritage should not be made lightly and should follow established guidelines and procedures.”

Brad McCauley, President, American Society of Landscape Architects

“The Kennedy Center and its grounds are part of our shared public realm. Federal law requires careful, informed reviews to guide decisions about its future, accounting for preservation law, public input, cultural understanding, and long-term stewardship. Following proper process to honor the Kennedy Center’s role as a national civic landmark matters.”

Judy Chesser, Chair, Committee of 100 for the Federal City

“The Kennedy Center is a national treasure. Its construction set new standards, from accessibility to acoustics. Without public input and congressional approval as required by law, the Administration’s statements that its intentions are only to ‘enhance’ the Center are not reassuring but are cause for alarm.”

About the Plaintiffs

 The American Institute of Architects (AIA): With 101,000 members, AIA is the world’s largest, most influential network of architects and design professionals. Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing.

American Society of Landscape Architects: Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the professional association for landscape architects in the United States, proudly representing more than 16,000 members. Landscape architects lead the planning, design, and stewardship of healthy, equitable, safe, and resilient environments.

Committee of 100 on the Federal City: Founded more than a century ago, the Committee of 100 on the Federal City is a nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding and advancing Washington’s historic distinction, natural beauty, and overall livability. The Committee’s work recognizes the critical value of public planning, informed by traditions that originate from the L’Enfant Plan and the McMillan Commission, continuing to the current day.

DC Preservation League: Founded in 1971, the DC Preservation League (DCPL) has played a major role in advocating for the preservation, protection, and enhancement of significant landmarks, neighborhoods, and cultural sites across all eight wards of Washington, D.C. The membership supported nonprofit carries out its work through advocacy, public education, and partnerships with government agencies and community groups.

Docomomo US is the United States chapter of Docomomo International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the modern movement. Committed to the principle that modern design merits the attention and preservation received by earlier periods, Docomomo US represents twenty-eight regional chapters and partner organizations that share knowledge of and enthusiasm for modern architecture, landscapes, and design.

National Trust for Historic Preservation is a privately-funded nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities maintain and enhance the power of historic places. Chartered by Congress in 1949 and supported by partners, friends, and champions nationwide, the Trust helps preserve the places and stories that make communities unique. Through the stewardship and revitalization of historic sites, the Trust helps communities foster economic growth, create healthier environments, and build a stronger, shared sense of civic duty and belonging.

Society of Architectural Historians: Founded at Harvard University in 1940, SAH is a nonprofit membership organization that serves an international network of institutions and individuals who, by profession or interest, focus on the history of the built environment and its role in shaping contemporary life. SAH promotes the study, interpretation, and conservation of architecture, design, landscapes, and urbanism worldwide for the benefit of all.

The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1998 to connect people to places. TCLF educates and engages the public to make our shared landscape heritage more visible, identify its value, and empower its stewards. Through its website, publishing, lectures, and other events, TCLF broadens support and understanding for cultural landscapes. TCLF is also home to the Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize. 

About the Law Firms

 Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC (CHP) uses law, policy, and public attention to protect and preserve archaeology, art, architecture, landscapes, burial grounds, sacred spaces, traditional knowledge and practices, and related civil and human rights. The firm’s clients include Indigenous nations, African American communities, historic cities and towns, and cultural institutions globally. Since its founding in 2010, the firm has been led by Marion F. Werkheiser and Greg Werkheiser.

Foley Hoag, is an award-winning, mid-sized, international law firm that focuses on innovative industries and high-stakes litigation. The firm maintains robust offices in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Denver, and Paris. The diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of the firm’s lawyers and business services professionals contribute to the exceptional service Foley Hoag delivers to clients. Counsel in this matter are Greg Craig, Tad Heuer, and Matt Casassa.

Lowell & Associates, PLLC provides strategic, principled legal representation across civil, criminal, compliance, congressional, and regulatory matters. Led by its Founding Member, Abbe David Lowell, the firm’s mission is the provision of pro bono and public interest representation in matters that defend the integrity of the legal system and protect individuals and institutions from government overreach and other threats to fundamental rights.

 Contact (will coordinate access to all clients and firms as requested):

Greg Werkheiser, Founding Partner
Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC
1717 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1025, Washington, DC 20006
(703) 408-2002 / greg@culturalheritagepartners.com

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The DC Preservation League (DCPL) is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, dedicated to preserving and protecting the District’s historic resources. Founded in 1971 as “Don’t Tear It Down” to save the Old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue from demolition, the League has consistently worked to ensure that proposed new developments and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings do not compromise the character of this great city.

DCPL appears today to express serious concerns and strong opposition to the current mass and proportions of the proposed East Wing addition to The White House. While the current Administration has emphasized the need for modernization and functionality for this important addition to The White House grounds, the proposed design strays far from the most fundamental principle of historic preservation, which dictates that new additions to historic buildings should be deferential and should allow the primary structure’s significance to remain intact.

The scale of the proposed new construction raises significant concerns as it dwarfs the Executive Residence. The original spaces within The White House were designed to convey a sense of proportion and intimacy, which are vital to the building’s charm and historical significance. In contrast, the proposed East Wing addition is disproportionately large and impersonal, and will detract from the dignified atmosphere that has characterized presidential events for centuries. This stark shift in design reflects a troubling impulse directed to grandiosity that would prioritize spectacle over the subtleties of the history and image of our country.

Questions also arise regarding the proposed east colonnade’s attachment to the Executive Residence. Currently, there is no known demolition plan that is publicly available, leaving it unclear whether access to the proposed second floor of the colonnade would be through the existing central door or through enlarging it to engulf and remove the historic windows and pediments to the south.

The proposed changes raise important questions about the stewardship of The White House. Preserving the integrity of the Executive Residence is not merely about maintaining its physical structure but also providing for public input and transparency on proposed modifications to this highly symbolic building. Through a substantially secretive process, depriving the public of reasonable and meaningful participation, for the sake of grandiose expansion, we risk erasing the very essence of what makes The White House a leading symbol of American history.

DCPL acknowledges the need for facilities that meet modern requirements, but we believe such decisions must be approached with the utmost respect for history and context. The proposed addition, in its current form, not only violates established norms of historic preservation by overshadowing the historic structure, but it also risks diluting the rich heritage that The White House represents. The argument that the scale of the proposed new construction is compatible because of the scale of adjacent structures like the Treasury and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, is a specious one.  Further, the argument that erecting tents on the South Lawn diminishes the integrity of the historic landscape with only temporary and reversible impacts does not appropriately acknowledge the profound and permanent impacts of the proposed East Wing addition.

For more than fifty years, DCPL has served as the leading voice for the preservation of Washington, DC’s architectural heritage and possesses the expertise and responsibility to identify adverse impacts on historic resources. Based on that expertise, we conclude unequivocally that the current proposal would harm the integrity, character, and setting of The White House complex and President’s Park.

Mr. Chairman, at the last hearing, you lobbied your fellow commissioners about the need for a space to host foreign dignitaries. You held forth on King Charles hosting events at Windsor Castle, while American Presidents host their guests under a tent. I’ll remind the commissioners that there is no monarchy in the United States, and this country doesn’t have castles that are 950 years old. We do, however, have a classically inspired, palatial ballroom that the federal government owns, mere blocks from The White House – it’s called the Mellon Auditorium. It accommodates 1,000 guests and was recently restored at great expense to the tax payer.

The Commission has received thousands of public comments from residents and experts opposing the size of this project. Do not ignore the public sentiment for an addition that is respectfully deferential to the historic landmark, and compatible with The White House Complex and President’s Park.

Legal Challenge Brought Against Effort by Trump-Vance Administration to Stymie Public Access to East Potomac Park, Create Exclusive Golf Course for President

The DC Preservation League and two local residents are taking legal action to protect East Potomac Park and its golf course, challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful and possibly hazardous dumping at the park as part of an effort to convert the public recreation space into an exclusive, high-end golf course. East Potomac Park is seen as a model for public golf courses in America, and is still the most used public golf course in Washington, D.C. Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward Foundation, Lowell & Associates, and Democracy Defenders Fund.

“The East Potomac Golf Links is a unique cultural landscape that reflects the history of recreation in the nation’s capital. Altering its historic character would undermine a site meant to be accessible to the public. Historic preservation is about maintaining the qualities that make a site an asset—affordability, openness, and architectural significance—rather than allowing for exclusive redevelopment. Losing this golf course would significantly impact our shared history and limit public access to one of the District’s vital recreation and green spaces,” said Rebecca Miller, Executive Director of DC Preservation League.

“This property is near and dear to so many in this region’s golf community, and should be kept as a resource for the wide range of golfers that use it today,” said plaintiff Alex Dickson. “Allowing East Potomac golf course to become dependent on the whims of the White House deprives this community of what the National Park Service set out to accomplish with a long-term operator that can not only oversee sustainable improvements but do so with the needs of golfers with varying experience, skill levels, and economic means in mind.”

“Like so many others in the D.C. area, East Potomac Golf Links is a special place for me. It’s where I first introduced my kids to the game, and where we’ve spent many a Father’s Day afternoon together. In a city where politicians are constantly focused on what separates us, East Potomac is one of the few remaining spaces where no matter who you are, what you do, or the state of your game, everyone is welcome and everyone is treated the same. East Potomac Golf Links is a testament to what’s possible with public land and why public spaces matter. It deserves better than becoming a dumping ground for waste and yet another private playground for the privileged and powerful. That’s why I’m proud to join this fight to keep East Potomac accessible, affordable, and engaging for all,”  said plaintiff Dave Roberts.

East Potomac Golf Course itself is an irreplaceable part of American history. The layout was designed by the preeminent golf course architect Walter J. Travis, whose designs (including for iconic locations such as Westchester Country Club in New York, Hollywood Golf Club in New Jersey, and Cape Arundel Golf Club in Maine) remain deeply influential on modern course architecture. Patterned after the links courses of Scotland, Travis’s course at East Potomac offered an egalitarian design open to a variety of skill levels. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and its National Park Service have started efforts that will undermine access to East Potomac Park and seek to build in its place, per media reports, a golf course designed for professional tournaments and more exclusive events for wealthy golfers. Though any sort of massive reconstruction would legally require review and approvals, including those mandated by the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), DOI has already taken several steps in implementing that plan, including dumping roughly 30,000 cubic yards of dirt, debris, and wreckage from the sudden and unlawful excavation for the East Wing Modernization Project at the White House, on the East Potomac Golf Course. That debris included wires, pipes, bricks, and other materials — apparently untested for pollutants or contaminants. 

In addition to unlawfully dumping debris on the course in October 2025, DOI also terminated the lease held by the National Links Trust, a non-profit organization previously entrusted with stewardship of East Potomac Golf Course. 

“Golf is a sport that, at its best, is accessible and available to be enjoyed by all,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “The East Potomac golf course is a historic course that for decades has been available for all to play. Yet, no public space appears to be safe from this administration or the narcissistic efforts by the president to mark his territory, at the expense of both American taxpayers and U.S. history.  We are acting to save this priceless part of our national park system from being another casualty of a reckless administration. We are honored for the partnership of our plaintiffs in fighting back against this unlawful assault on our cherished public spaces.”

“The Trump administration’s blatant attempt to circumvent the law and turn this public treasure into a private playground for the wealthy cannot stand,” said Abbe Lowell, Founding Member at Lowell & Associates. “We will fight to protect East Potomac Park, ensuring that it remains an accessible space for everyone—regardless of their income or status.” 

Norm Eisen, the founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, stated, “This marks the latest iteration of President Trump’s efforts to plunder our national monuments and public spaces and recast them in his own image. Like his previous attempts, we will not allow this to stand. We are so pleased to join forces once again with two of our nation’s great democracy fighters, Democracy Forward and Lowell & Associates, to bring this landmark action.”

East Potomac Park occupies a publicly owned, human-made island just south of the National Mall that Congress declared a public park in

1897, decreeing that it should be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people.” Today, the vast majority of the park’s 330 acres are used for recreation, including not only East Potomac Golf Course but also tennis courts and a playground. Japanese cherry trees, pines, and other flowering trees frame a road and scenic walkways and bike trails around the perimeter of the island down to Hains Point, a 15-acre open green space at the southern tip of the park boasting panoramic views of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. The park regularly hosts running races, guided bird walks, fishing events, and picnics. 

The case is DC Preservation League et. al. v. Department of the Interior, et. al. and the legal team at Democracy Forward working on the case includes Will Bardwell, Mark Samburg, Catherine Carroll, and Robin Thurston. The team with Lowell & Associates includes Abbe Lowell with support from Norm Eisen and the Democracy Defenders Fund.

Read today’s filing here. 

Press may contact Democracy Forward at press@democracyforward.org

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.

Lowell & Associates, PLLC provides strategic and principled legal representation across civil, criminal, compliance, congressional and regulatory matters. The firm brings a deep understanding of both the law and the broader context in which our clients operate, serving individuals, businesses and institutions that value experienced counsel and effective advocacy in today’s legal environment.

Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.