Trump petitions Supreme Court to lift injunction on White House ballroom construction

President Donald Trump filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court on Friday seeking to lift an injunction that bars above-ground construction of a new ballroom adjacent to the White House. The request follows a Aug. 7 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that upheld a district judge’s order halting the work while related litigation proceeds.

"If allowed to go into effect, the injunction would wrongfully install a single district judge as sole arbiter of what further construction is ‘strictly necessary’ to protect the safety of the President, his family, staff members, and visitors to the White House, including foreign dignitaries," wrote Solicitor General D. John Sauer in the filing.

The appellate court’s ruling has not yet taken effect, so construction continues pending the Supreme Court’s decision, which is due by Aug. 21. Sauer urged the justices to act immediately.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had previously permitted only below-ground work for security and medical facilities, barring the ballroom itself. The administration appealed that decision.

The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues it has standing because members would suffer aesthetic and cultural harm. The trust’s claim relies on a statement from board member Alison Hoagland, who said she would experience “professional and personal injuries, including to my aesthetic, cultural and historical interests” if the ballroom were built. Sauer dismissed the claim as lacking concrete injury.

According to the filing, the project is about 65 % complete, with a five-story, 70-foot-high superstructure and a 250-person crew working around the clock. The administration says no taxpayer money is used, noting the effort is funded by $400 million in private donations.