Washington National Opera sues, says Kennedy Center owes it $17M
Source: The Hill
06/12/26 10:48 AM ET
The Washington National Opera (WNO) filed a lawsuit Thursday, alleging that the Kennedy Center failed to return more than $17 million in donations made to the organization after its split from the venue earlier this year.
The WNO cited the Kennedy Centers position as a federally chartered entity and its membership in the Smithsonian Institution in its challenge, which lists the federal government as the defendant.
The funds held by the Kennedy Center represent years of gifts and contributions made by loyal WNO donors who specifically directed their support to benefit WNO and its mission, the opera said in the court filing.
Those donors trusted that their contributions would support WNOs artists, its performances and the education and community programs that WNO has carried out for decades, it continued. The Hill has reached out to the Kennedy Center for comment.
Read more: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5921637-washington-national-opera-lawsuit-kennedy-center-trump/
Link to SUIT (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.uscfc.54456/gov.uscourts.uscfc.54456.1.0.pdf
twodogsbarking
(19,621 posts)no_hypocrisy
(55,595 posts)Last edited Fri Jun 12, 2026, 04:52 PM - Edit history (1)
young_at_heart
(4,074 posts)Who (physically) has this money? Those loyal donors deserve better!!!
eppur_se_muova
(42,800 posts)"IT'S MINE !! ALL MINE !!"