President Donald Trump has removed Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States, and is planning to make changes to the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as part of his ongoing efforts to disrupt institutions in Washington. Shogan, who oversees government records, was dismissed by Trump amid tensions between the administration and the National Archives. The Kennedy Center, a prominent arts facility that receives federal funding, is facing a shakeup with the President aiming to replace several board members, including the chairman. Trump’s actions come as he continues to reshape the government and appoint loyalists to key positions.
There is no rule in place to prevent a new administration from replacing board members; however, this would mark the first instance of such action being taken with the Kennedy Center’s board. The Kennedy Center plays host to over 2,000 events annually and serves as the official residence of both the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. It stands as a living tribute to its namesake, President John F. Kennedy. (Reported by Jeff Mason in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Edited by Shri Navaratnam and Sam Holmes)
