Activist Judge Halts White House Ballroom, Undermining Trump’s Security Efforts
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A federal judge has blocked above-ground construction of President Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom, allowing only vital underground security work to continue.
A federal judge has once again interfered with President Donald Trump’s efforts to enhance the White House by halting above-ground construction of the $400 million ballroom, a project aimed at modernizing the nation’s most important residence. Only below-ground work related to national security will be permitted, following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon. This decision comes after an appeals court ordered a review of the project’s security implications, reflecting ongoing judicial activism against the Trump administration.
Judge Leon ruled that above-ground construction must stop unless Congress gives its approval, but allowed critical subterranean work, including bunkers and other security facilities, to continue. He insisted that national security does not override legal procedures, a stance that many see as a technicality used to stall much-needed improvements.
President Trump strongly condemned the ruling, calling Judge Leon a “Trump Hating” judge who is putting politics above the safety and progress of the country. The administration is preparing to appeal, determined to overcome obstruction from the courts and the political establishment.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a group frequently aligned with liberal interests, filed the lawsuit to block the project and expressed satisfaction with the decision, despite the urgent need for White House upgrades.
The ballroom project, funded by patriotic private donors, has faced relentless legal attacks over the planned changes to the East Wing and the supposed requirement for congressional approval. Judge Leon granted a one-week stay on his decision, giving the administration a chance to take the fight to the Supreme Court.