The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow construction of the $400 million White House ballroom to move forward, arguing that the project is vital to national security. The Department of Justice filed the request on Friday, seeking a stay on a lower court's injunction that paused the building efforts while litigation continues.
The DOJ's filing described the case as involving "an extraordinary and unlawful injunction" that would halt construction of "an integrated military complex, including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White House, which is vitally required by national security."
The appeal was widely expected after the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on August 7 that construction must halt unless the government obtains congressional approval. The appeals court set a deadline of August 21 for construction to stop, but stayed its injunction for 14 days to allow the DOJ to petition the Supreme Court.
Legal background
The appeals court's ruling upheld an earlier order by District Court Judge Richard Leon, issued in April. Both rulings apply to above-ground construction that changes the visible characteristics of the White House. The appeals court panel wrote: "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help."
The legal battle began in December, when the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit after the Trump administration demolished the East Wing of the White House and began work on a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. A federal judge ruled in favor of the trust, allowing underground construction to proceed but barring the construction of the ballroom itself while litigation continues.
Trump has defended the project, saying it is needed to host secure events following a series of failed assassination attempts. In a statement responding to the injunction, he said: "This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety." He also said the ballroom would include bomb shelters, medical facilities, protection from drones and missiles, and other security features.
Cost and scope concerns
The project's cost has become a point of contention. The price tag for US taxpayers has ballooned, contradicting Trump's earlier claims that it would be funded solely through outside donations. As of August 14, construction was 65 percent complete on the $400 million project, with a 250-person crew working 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
Critics have noted that the ballroom plans come amid a broader push by the president to transform the US capital in his image, including through the construction of a massive triumphal arch.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary stay on Friday that blocks lower court rulings that would have put the above-ground portion of the project on hold, allowing construction to continue while the Supreme Court considers the matter.