Federal Judge Blocks Construction of Trump’s New White House Ballroom
A federal judge issued a ruling on Thursday that halts the construction of President Donald Trump’s highly publicized new White House ballroom, determining that the administration employed legal maneuvering to bypass a prior court order.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had previously ordered the $400 million project suspended pending congressional approval, allowing only for “measures absolutely necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House and its grounds.” Notably, this provision includes the construction of an underground bunker and relevant security measures beneath the former East Wing.
President Trump contended that this exception encompassed the entire 90,000-square-foot ballroom, claiming the whole project is crucial for the safety of the White House. Judge Leon disagreed, rejecting this interpretation.
Leon expressed his concerns, stating, “Defendants are claiming that the entire ballroom construction project, from top to bottom, is within the safety and security exceptions so that it can proceed without loss of momentum. That is neither reasonable nor a correct interpretation of my order!” He remarked that the defendants’ argument was “incredible, to say the least, if not disingenuous.”
Reiterating his position, Leon emphasized that national security cannot serve as a blanket justification for illegal activities. The ruling will not take effect for seven days, affording the government an opportunity to appeal.
Additionally, Leon clarified the “scope of the injunction” previously issued, as mandated by a federal appeals court. The order does not bar underground construction, including the development of national security facilities, nor does it inhibit above-ground construction necessary to ensure the protection of these facilities, provided that such work does not set the above-ground size and scale of the ballroom.
The White House and Justice Department have not yet responded to requests for comment. The plaintiff, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, initiated a lawsuit aiming to halt the president’s ambitious projects until they receive congressional authorization, arguing that they exceed the president’s executive authority.
Judge Leon sided with the plaintiff and issued a preliminary injunction, which has since been appealed by the government, aligning with Trump’s assertion that the entire project could progress under the national security exception. Administrative lawyers urged the judge to confirm that the East Tower project can advance as planned, emphasizing its integral role in national security objectives.
However, preservation advocates countered that the government’s stance amounts to a significant distortion of established legal definitions, highlighting that the construction of the bunkers and underground facilities had always been regarded as separate from the ballroom’s development. Following the judge’s ruling, the Trust voiced concerns, indicating that the functions of the proposed bunker’s performance seem equivalent to that of the expansive banquet hall, reiterating their opposition to any underground construction related to the project.
