All construction of Trump's White House ballroom can resume, appeals court says

An appeals court has ruled that construction of a ballroom at the White House can resume, overturning a previous halt issued by a judge in late March. The initial ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which alleged the White House failed to follow proper procedures by not filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission or seeking congressional authorization before beginning the project. The Justice Department appealed the halt, citing potential risks to national security and the president, arguing the ballroom is vital for secure meetings and includes bomb shelters and medical facilities. Former President Trump criticized the initial ruling, claiming the ballroom is essential for national security and military operations. The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.

A US appeals court has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to resume construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, overturning a lower court's order that halted the project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit last year challenging the administration's authority to build the ballroom without Congressional approval. The initial ruling against the project came from a Washington judge who deemed it unlawful without Congressional consent. The appeals court will hear arguments on June 5th regarding whether construction should be paused for the duration of the appeal. The current order does not address the merits of the lawsuit itself, only the temporary stay on the lower court's injunction.

A federal judge has modified an order halting construction of a White House ballroom, allowing below-ground work on national security facilities to proceed. Judge Richard Leon's ruling clarifies a previous decision after an appeals court requested reconsideration of potential national security implications. The order still blocks above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which replaced the demolished East Wing, pending congressional approval. Government lawyers argued the project includes critical security features against threats like drones and missiles. The judge's initial order on March 31 exempted construction necessary for White House safety and security.

A U.S. appeals court has ordered a federal judge to reconsider the national security implications of halting construction on President Trump's $400 million White House ballroom. The ruling, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, states that the court needs more information to determine how suspending the project might affect the safety of the President, his family, and White House staff. The case was initially brought by a preservationist group, leading the trial judge to bar construction without congressional approval. Government lawyers argued the project includes crucial security features against threats like drones and biohazards. The appeals court extended the suspension of the lower court's order until April 17 to allow the Trump administration to seek Supreme Court review, instructing the judge to clarify how his injunction interferes with security plans.

A US appeals court extended the deadline to April 17 for halting construction of a White House ballroom, delaying a lower court's order that paused the project. The extension allows the Trump administration to seek Supreme Court review of the initial order, which cited the need for congressional authorization due to the project's transformative nature. The appeals court's decision was split, with the majority raising concerns about the administration's claims that pausing construction poses a national security risk. The Trump administration filed an emergency motion on April 4th to lift any barriers to construction. The original order to pause construction came from Judge Richard Leon on March 31st.