The Trump administration has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to allow continuation of White House ballroom construction, currently valued at $400 million. The request comes after a lower court ordered a halt to the project. Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed the appeal to suspend the decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Chief Justice John Roberts has requested a response from the plaintiffs by Tuesday.
Lower Court Ruling
The divided appeals court recently ordered a stop to the ballroom’s construction, explaining Congress has not approved the project. The majority opinion stated President Trump lacks the authority to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom without congressional approval. A two-week suspension of the ruling allows time for further appeals.
Sauer described the injunction as unlawful and claimed it jeopardizes national security by stopping construction on a secure ballroom space. The submission highlighted an alleged missile attack threat against Air Force One and noted that $400 million in private donations fund the project. Democrats speculate funds from Trump’s tax cuts may contribute to the funding.
Court Proceedings and Arguments
The administration seeks additional congressional funding, but no approval has been granted. Previously, a district court allowed underground construction, including military installations and medical facilities, but paused aboveground work. The D.C. Circuit panel’s 2-1 decision supported this stop, siding with historic preservationists.
The court emphasized that whether or not to construct a massive ballroom is a decision for Congress, not an executive action.
Judge Neomi Rao, nominated by Trump, dissented, criticizing the lack of standing for the preservation group that initiated the lawsuit. The administration asserts presidential authority over White House renovations and dismisses Congress’s and the courts’ roles in the matter.
Legal Dispute over Authority and Standing
The government claims national security is compromised with the ongoing construction site. They argue the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks legal standing to interfere. The trust rebutted, stating that the administration’s swift construction efforts aim to bypass judicial review.
During a hearing, an administration lawyer defended broad presidential powers, suggesting hypothetical scenarios where iconic structures could be altered without legal challenge. The D.C. Circuit supported Judge Richard Leon’s ruling permitting essential security-related construction while pausing other work.
The Trump administration insists the unfinished state of the project poses security risks and urges an uninterrupted continuation to prevent chaos.
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