Appeals court hears challenge to Trump's White House ballroom

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is hearing arguments on the Trump administration's appeal to allow construction of a $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the White House grounds. The administration, represented by lawyer Yaakov Roth, argues that challengers lack legal standing and that the project is a national security necessity due to the inadequacy of the old East Wing for protecting the President and executive branch leadership. Preservationists, led by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, contend that the project lacks congressional authorization and will cause irreparable damage to a historic site. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had previously blocked above-ground construction, citing a lack of presidential authority, though the appeals court allowed construction to continue during the legal battle without ruling on the merits. The panel, consisting of judges Millett, Garcia, and Rao, could issue a ruling in the coming weeks, which may be appealed to the Supreme Court. The White House states Trump is beautifying the capital, but critics claim he is circumventing standard approval processes and spending taxpayer funds on self-indulgent projects. President Trump is also pursuing other projects, including a Garden of American Heroes, a revamp of the Kennedy Center (which was briefly renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center before a judge blocked the name change), a refurbishment of the Reflecting Pool, and the proposed Independence Arch.