Overview
- Josef Palermo’s column in The Atlantic on Thursday accuses the Kennedy Center’s new leadership of cronyism and donor‑driven decisions that he says set the stage for a two‑year closure.
- He says acting director Richard Grenell told guests at an October 7 commemoration that the Israeli Lounge could be reassigned to a new donor unless money came in for renovations.
- Palermo describes lounges being sold for naming rights, including the Circles Lounge becoming the SyberJet Lounge, named for a company whose CEO was pardoned by President Trump after a fraud conviction.
- He alleges the institution tied big perks to giving, such as a $2 million theater box that included a private reception with the president, and he says spending favored cosmetic upgrades over long‑needed repairs.
- Palermo says he was laid off on March 26 and rejected extra severance tied to a nondisclosure, and he is cooperating with congressional and legal reviews as the center moves toward a July start for its two‑year renovation.