WASHINGTON — A federal judge has ordered that the name of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts be restored to its original form, rejecting an effort by Donald Trump to affix his own name alongside that of the slain president for whom the institution was created.

The ruling represents a sharp legal rebuke to an unusual and controversial move that critics described as a violation of federal law, presidential norms, and the spirit of a memorial dedicated to cultural excellence and national unity. The judge found that any change to the Kennedy Center’s name requires explicit authorization from Congress — a step that had not been taken.

The Kennedy Center was established by statute in 1958 and renamed in honor of John F. Kennedy after his assassination, through legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson. Legal experts have long maintained that its name is protected under federal law, placing it beyond the unilateral authority of a president or its governing board.

Despite those restrictions, the Kennedy Center’s board — recently reshaped by Mr. Trump and including figures closely aligned with him — voted last week to approve the addition of the former president’s name. Within hours, signage bearing the new designation appeared on the building, prompting immediate backlash from lawmakers, historians, artists, and civil society groups.

The court intervened swiftly after multiple legal challenges were filed. In its order, the judge said that the administration had acted “without lawful authority” and directed that all references to the altered name be removed pending any future congressional action.

“This was not a close call,” said Norm Eisen, a former White House ethics counsel and the founder of the Democracy Defenders Fund, which has been involved in numerous lawsuits challenging actions taken by Mr. Trump. “The statute is clear. Only Congress can rename the Kennedy Center. No president, board, or political faction gets to rewrite history by fiat.”

The attempted renaming quickly became a flashpoint in Washington, where it was seen by critics as part of a broader pattern of norm-breaking by Mr. Trump during his final months in office. Opponents argue that the episode reflects a willingness to disregard legal constraints in pursuit of personal legacy and symbolic dominance.

Beyond the legal dispute, the controversy has had tangible cultural consequences. Several performers announced plans to withdraw from upcoming appearances at the Kennedy Center, citing concerns about political interference in a space traditionally insulated from partisan battles. Representatives for at least one musician confirmed that a scheduled January performance had been canceled following the board’s vote.

Artists and arts organizations warned that the reputational damage could extend well beyond the current dispute, potentially discouraging future performers from appearing at one of the nation’s most prestigious cultural venues.

“The Kennedy Center has always stood above politics,” said one senior arts administrator who requested anonymity to avoid retaliation. “When you politicize a memorial like this, you risk hollowing out what made it special in the first place.”

Public reaction has also been visible outside the courtroom. Demonstrators gathered outside the Kennedy Center over the weekend, some carrying signs reading “History Is Not for Sale” and “No Kings in America.” The protests echoed a broader critique that the renaming effort symbolized an “imperial presidency” at odds with democratic traditions.

Republican lawmakers, many of whom privately acknowledged discomfort with the move, largely avoided public comment. Several Democrats, however, condemned the effort as disrespectful to President Kennedy’s legacy and to the artists the center was meant to honor.

In a statement after the ruling, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said the institution would comply fully with the court’s order and restore all official references to the original name. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Historians say the episode underscores how cultural institutions can become battlegrounds in moments of political stress. “Memorials are not just buildings,” said Julian Zelizer, a presidential historian. “They are shared reference points for how a nation understands itself. When those are manipulated for personal or political ends, it erodes trust in the institutions that preserve our collective memory.”

For now, the judge’s order has halted the name change and reaffirmed Congress’s authority over the Kennedy Center. But the controversy has left lingering questions about how far a president can go in reshaping public symbols — and how resilient the guardrails of law and custom remain when tested.

As one protester outside the center put it, gesturing toward the restored signage: “You can put your name on a building. You can’t put it on history.”