Trump Taps Facilities Manager to Lead Kennedy Center

Kennedy Center staff puzzled by president's pick to oversee landmark performing arts venue

Mar. 24, 2026 at 10:57am

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President Donald Trump has appointed Matt Floca, a facilities manager with no experience in arts management, as the new director of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Floca's former colleagues describe him as an "operations guy" focused on building maintenance and upgrades, rather than the artistic programming, fundraising, and other key responsibilities of the director role.

Why it matters

The Kennedy Center is one of the most prestigious performing arts venues in the United States, and the director position requires a diverse set of skills to manage the institution's operations, programming, and fundraising. Floca's lack of experience in these areas has raised concerns among Kennedy Center staff about his ability to effectively lead the organization, especially during a planned two-year renovation project.

The details

Floca previously worked for the D.C. government on capital construction and facilities, and was hired by the Kennedy Center two years ago to oversee building upgrades and maintenance. Trump was impressed by Floca's knowledge of the center's aging infrastructure and appointed him as director after firing longtime ally Ric Grenell earlier this month. However, Floca's former colleagues say his expertise lies in "HVAC and toilets" rather than the artistic and managerial aspects of running a major performing arts institution.

  • Floca was hired by the Kennedy Center two years ago, during the Biden administration.
  • Trump appointed Floca as the new director of the Kennedy Center earlier this month, after firing Ric Grenell.

The players

Matt Floca

A facilities manager with a background in capital construction and building maintenance, who was recently appointed as the new director of the Kennedy Center by President Donald Trump.

Ric Grenell

The former director of the Kennedy Center, who was fired by President Trump earlier this month.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who personally selected Floca to lead the Kennedy Center and has taken a keen interest in renovating the aging performing arts venue.

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What they’re saying

“He really will just be overseeing the facility, the renovation, because Matt's expertise does not lie in marketing, it does not lie in artistic programming, it doesn't lie in fundraising, it doesn't lie in literally any other category of arts management other than the facility itself.”

— Source close to the Kennedy Center

“He was in charge of HVAC and toilets. He's deeply an operations guy, he wants to talk about structural engineering and load capacity.”

— Former Kennedy Center colleague

“He's never been the person that's running an organization. He has had no experience with that. He's always had a buffer.”

— Source with knowledge of the dynamic

What’s next

The Kennedy Center is expected to close to the public after the Fourth of July celebration, and it remains to be seen how Floca will manage the planned two-year renovation project along with the other responsibilities of the director role.

The takeaway

The appointment of a facilities manager with no experience in arts management to lead the prestigious Kennedy Center has raised concerns among staff about the institution's ability to maintain its high standards and navigate the challenges of a major renovation project under Floca's leadership.