Layoffs hit Kennedy Center again amid Trump's MAGA overhaul

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

April 10, 2026 7:21PM ET


Layoffs continued Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the nation’s premier arts institution prepares for a two-year shutdown tied to President Donald Trump’s MAGA-fied overhaul – which included a rebrand as the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”

Multiple people familiar with the cuts told the Washington Post that the programming department has been hit especially hard, with staff either terminated or reassigned as the center pivots away from traditional productions. “Everything is a rental now,” one person with knowledge of the situation told the outlet. “If it’s not making money, we don’t do it.”

Among those laid off were top leaders, including Ryan Hamilton, senior director of broadcast, comedy and special programming, and Sam Miller, senior director of music programming, the Post reported Friday. Both were brought in under former board president Richard Grenell, a Trump ally who previously led efforts to reshape the institution in the MAGA leader’s name before his firing.

The latest cuts follow an earlier round of layoffs that hit the storied arts institution just weeks ago, as leadership prepares for a July 7 closure that will last two years for renovations.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/kennedy-center-2676700489/

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I thought they were pretty much closed but then see the closure date is July 7.

[Blues Heron]

1. hes going to tear it down like the east wing

[forgotmylogin]

8. Or at minimum, make sure his name is carved into the building.

As it stands, they could probably pop "The Donald J. Trump and" off the side of the building real quick with a crowbar.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. The laid-off employees must be heartbroken.

It's more than the money.

They likely loved their jobs as well as their efforts were labors in love. They truly believed in their mission to extol the Arts in the Capitol for the sake of the arts, not private profits.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. The culturally depraved have no business running arts organizations

MAGA goes to the ballet just doesn't fit.

[Martin68]

4. They are completely dismantling this monument to JFK and culture in America. Pure vandalism.

[AverageOldGuy]

5. Oh, the Trump Center will be filled with American culture

Female mud wrestling.
Tractor pulls.
Mixed Martial Arts.
Professional “wrestling.”
Kid Rock.
My Pillow telethons.

[wolfie001]

6. He's turned it into a barn filled with horseshit

Didn't take him long to destroy it either. He couldn't stand the boos and negative blowback. fat orange imbecile

[samsingh]

7. has there ever been a more incompetent, more corrupt, or more anti-American President?

[Ray Bruns]

9. "If it's not making money, we don't do it."

It doesn't sound like any of the building is making any money.