Judge Blocks Trump Ballroom as Administration Warns of Grave Security Harm
The Trump administration is trying to restart White House ballroom construction after a federal judge ordered the project paused, turning a design fight into a fast-moving legal and security battle in Washington. What makes it more volatile is that the administration says the halt itself creates security risks, while the judge already said necessary security work can continue.
According to Reuters, the administration filed an emergency motion Friday arguing the court order left the White House “open and exposed” and threatened “grave national-security harms” to the president, his family and staff. The filing comes days after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that no law clearly gives Trump authority to push forward with the $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project without Congress.
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AP reported Leon carved out an exception for work needed to protect the White House, undercutting part of the administration’s latest argument. The lawsuit came from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which says the project moved ahead without required review and congressional approval.
The planning commission has already approved the project, but the appeal now decides whether the administration can turn that approval into resumed construction.
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