U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States, and announced plans to overhaul the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This latest move comes as part of Trump’s broader effort to restructure government agencies and cultural institutions since retaking office.
The National Archives, which Shogan led, played a central role in alerting the Justice Department about Trump’s handling of classified documents in early 2022. While Shogan was not in office at the time of the investigation, Trump’s administration moved swiftly to remove her, with Sergio Gor, the director of the White House’s Presidential Personnel Office, announcing her dismissal on X. Shogan later confirmed she was fired without cause, stating she had “zero regrets” about her tenure.
Trump’s shakeup extended beyond the National Archives to the Kennedy Center, a revered cultural institution that receives federal funding and hosts over 2,000 events annually. The president criticized the Center for featuring “drag shows specifically targeting our youth” and announced the removal of board chairman David Rubenstein, a businessman and philanthropist who was recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Joe Biden.
“I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,” Trump declared on social media. He then made an unprecedented move by appointing himself as the new chairman of the board.
While presidents have historically appointed Kennedy Center board members, they have not directly intervened in selecting the chairperson, a role traditionally chosen by the board itself. In response, the Kennedy Center stated that while a new administration has the authority to replace board members, this marks the first time such a direct takeover has been attempted.
Trump’s relationship with the Kennedy Center has been contentious. During his first term, he declined to attend the Kennedy Center Honors, the nation’s most prestigious arts awards. Despite the Center’s leaders extending an invitation, Trump remained critical of its programming and leadership.
As Trump continues to implement sweeping changes across government institutions, his decision to personally take control of the Kennedy Center board underscores his broader agenda of reshaping Washington’s cultural and bureaucratic landscape. The arts community now awaits further developments on how this shift will impact the future of the Kennedy Center’s programming and governance.
