A historic preservation group has asked the Supreme Court to suspend construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation argues the administration is attempting to bypass judicial review for the $400 million project.
The case centers on the extent of presidential authority to undertake significant renovations to the White House and whether such projects are subject to Congressional approval and judicial review.
A preservation group has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt construction on President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its request after the Trump administration asked the high court to allow the $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom construction to proceed.
Lawyers for the trust argued that the administration is attempting to bypass judicial review and secure Congressional permission for the project. The petition follows a divided appeals court ruling that upheld a lower court's order to pause aboveground construction, though that ruling was suspended to allow the administration to appeal.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had previously ruled that "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have." The administration maintains that the president possesses unimpeded authority for White House renovations and that the current construction site poses security challenges. The administration also disputes the National Trust's legal standing to sue over the project.