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.