In brief
Donald Trump has petitioned the Supreme Court to allow continued construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, citing national security and event space needs. An appeals court halted work pending congressional approval, a ruling enforced by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The president’s legal team argues the project is 65% complete and that stopping it would be a "construction-by-injunction." Trump maintains that the ballroom’s military facilities add critical security functions and that the funding comes from private donors, not taxpayers. "
US President Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to allow him to continue building a $400 million ballroom at the White House without congressional approval. The request follows an appeals court order that halted construction until a final Congressional decision, a ruling upheld by the National Trust for Historic Preservation after the administration began demolition work on the East Wing in October.
In a filing filed on Friday, the US Solicitor General, D John Sauer, urged the Court to let work resume, labeling the interim injunction “dangerous” and noting that 65% of the project was already completed. Sauer warned that a stoppage would amount to “construction-by-injunction” and would give the legislature undue leverage.
Trump has long argued the ballroom is essential for national security, citing the need for a large event space and additional military facilities such as bomb shelters and medical centers. The administration also claims the project is funded entirely by private corporate donations, thus exempting it from congressional oversight.
The lawsuit and consequent legal battles highlight a broader pattern in Trump’s proposed reshaping of Washington’s skyline, which includes renovations of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and plans for an “Arc de Trump” inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Critics say many of these projects bypass required review and public comment, accusations the president denies.
