Key facts
- The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow construction of a $400 million White House ballroom to continue.
- The administration cited national security needs, including a threat of a missile attack against Air Force One, as justification for the project.
- A lower court had ordered a halt to aboveground construction, ruling that Congress must approve such projects.
- The appeals court upheld the halt on aboveground construction, with a majority stating the president lacks unilateral authority for the project.
- The administration argues the president has the authority to renovate the White House and that the project is vital for security.
President Donald Trump’s administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow construction of a $400 million White House ballroom to proceed while it appeals a lower court's decision to halt the project. The administration, through Solicitor General D. John Sauer, petitioned the high court to suspend a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which stated that Trump does not have the unilateral authority to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom without congressional approval.
The appeals court panel had upheld a previous order to pause aboveground construction, siding with historic preservationists who sued to stop the project. The majority of the panel argued that such decisions are for Congress, not the executive branch, to make. However, one judge appointed by Trump dissented, finding the preservationist group lacked legal standing.
In its filing, the administration cited national security concerns, including a purported threat of a missile attack against Air Force One on July 8, as a critical reason for the need for a secure ballroom space. The filing also asserted that the project is on time and under budget, funded by private donations, although critics suggest funds from tax cuts may be involved. The administration maintains that the president has unimpeded authority to renovate the White House and that the current construction site poses security risks.
The lower court had previously allowed underground work, such as bunkers and medical facilities, to continue while halting aboveground construction. The plaintiffs, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, accuse the White House of attempting to evade judicial review by accelerating construction.