Washington: The Trump administration has announced its decision to appeal a federal judge's order mandating the removal of President Donald Trump's name from the Kennedy Center, as reported by various media outlets on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the notice of appeal was filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia. This appeal follows a ruling by US District Judge Christopher Cooper, who determined that only Congress has the authority to authorize a name change for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Consequently, Judge Cooper ordered all references to Trump to be removed.

The Kennedy Center's board, which was appointed during Trump's second term, also voted to seek a stay of the ruling. This decision by Judge Cooper additionally halted plans for major renovations at the arts venue, which were scheduled to start in July and continue for two years.

The Kennedy Center has already taken steps to comply by removing Trump's name from its website and has issued internal guidance directing staff to use "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" or simply "Kennedy Center" in official communications.

Rick Larsen, a Democratic representative and member of the board, expressed his opposition to seeking a stay, stating his eagerness to "focus on supporting the arts and the future of the Center."

After returning to office, Trump reshaped the Kennedy Center's leadership, replacing its previous board and appointing a new group of trustees who subsequently named him as chairperson. The board announced plans to rename the venue the "Trump Kennedy Center" and add the president's name to the building's facade, sparking criticism from lawmakers and scholars who insisted congressional approval was necessary.

Following this announcement, several artists and consultants withdrew from appearances or resigned from affiliations with the institution, as noted by Anadolu Agency.