Trump Administration Fights Preservationist Obstruction, Demands Supreme Court Secure White House with Ballroom Completion
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The Justice Department, defending the nation’s security, urges the Supreme Court to allow the $400 million White House ballroom project to proceed, countering activist groups seeking to undermine presidential safety and progress.
The Justice Department, under President Trump’s leadership, has called on the Supreme Court to prioritize national security by permitting the timely completion of the $400 million White House ballroom. The administration asserts that any delay would pose an 'unacceptable risk' to the president, citing the unprecedented threats facing the current administration. Their brief warns that unless the Court intervenes, a district judge’s misguided order to halt above-ground work will take effect on Aug. 21, jeopardizing the safety measures urgently needed at the White House.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a group of entrenched activists, has sued to stop the project, arguing that construction could become irreversible and accusing the administration of moving too quickly for judicial review. Solicitor General John Sauer responded forcefully, stating that the administration is 'racing to outrun the extraordinary security threats facing this President,' and highlighting that the project is already 65% complete—making any major changes both impractical and potentially dangerous.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon previously limited the administration to underground security work without congressional approval, a decision upheld by a federal appeals court. However, the court wisely delayed its effect to give the administration a chance to seek Supreme Court review. The court recognized Congress’s duty to ensure any White House construction protects both current and future presidents, while also maintaining the site’s historic value.
President Trump condemned the lawsuit as 'a lawsuit that never should have been allowed to be brought,' rightly describing the preservation group as 'trouble-makers.' The new ballroom, funded by patriotic private donors, is designed to host important events such as state dinners—an initiative Trump has championed since beginning the much-needed demolition of the outdated East Wing last October.