Key facts
- The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed White House ballroom construction to continue.
- Chief Justice John Roberts issued the order, overriding a lower court's halt.
- The project is estimated at $400 million and is 90,000 square feet.
- A preservation group is suing, arguing the project lacks specific congressional approval.
- The Trump administration claims the project is vital for national security and is 65% complete.
Chief Justice John Roberts has temporarily allowed the White House to continue construction on President Donald Trump's $400 million ballroom project, overriding a lower court's halt. The Supreme Court is considering an emergency request from the Trump administration to intervene in lawsuits challenging the project. The temporary order will remain in place until the Supreme Court issues a more definitive ruling.
The administration argues that the president has unilateral authority to renovate the White House and that the ballroom project is vital for national security. However, a historic preservation group contends that Trump lacks the authority for such work without specific congressional approval and has accused the White House of accelerating construction to outrun the courts.
Previous court rulings had ordered a stop to above-ground construction, though work below ground on bunkers and military installations was permitted. The Trump administration stated that 65% of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom project is complete, funded by approximately $200 million in private donations, with crews working extended hours.