Appeals court allows White House ballroom construction to continue for now
The construction of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom has been a topic of contention recently. A three-judge appeals court panel has allowed the construction to continue, at least for now.
In a decision made late Friday, the panel granted an administrative stay of an earlier injunction that blocked above-ground construction of the White House ballroom. This ruling came after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon stated that Trump cannot build the ballroom without authorization from Congress. The White House promptly appealed this decision, leading to the recent developments.
Leon revised his ruling this week to allow security-related work to proceed, particularly below ground. The White House appealed this revised order, and the three-judge panel granted a stay to give them time to consider an emergency motion for a broader, more lasting stay of Leon’s injunction.
The panel emphasized that the administrative stay is not a ruling on the merits of the motion, and oral arguments on the matter are scheduled for June 5. The construction of the 90,000-square foot ballroom was announced by the White House in July, with demolition beginning on the East Wing in late October.
However, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December to halt the construction until the project completes the standard federal review process and public comment is sought on the proposed changes to the White House. This legal battle highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the construction of the White House ballroom.
As the case unfolds in the courts, the fate of this lavish addition to the White House remains uncertain. Stay tuned for further developments on this ongoing story.
