Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary order on Friday permitting the White House to continue construction on the Trump administration’s $400 million ballroom project. The order was signed hours before lower court rulings would have halted aboveground work due to the project lacking congressional approval. Roberts, who oversees emergency appeals filed in the capital, did not provide detailed reasoning in the one-page document or indicate when a final decision would be issued.
The administration has asserted that the president possesses complete authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings without restriction, and contends the ballroom project must be completed for national security reasons. However, the National Trust for Historic Preservation disputes this assertion, arguing the president lacks unilateral power to undertake such work. The preservation group’s legal representatives claimed the White House is attempting to “outrun the courts” through accelerated construction. The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom would replace the demolished East Wing, with crews reportedly working 20 hours daily, seven days weekly.
Lower courts had previously ruled against aboveground construction, with a district judge ordering a halt in April and an appeals court panel upholding that decision. One appellate judge found the matter should be decided by Congress rather than executive action, while another judge appointed by Trump argued the preservation group lacked legal standing to challenge the project. The administration estimates 65 percent of work is complete, with approximately $200 million in private donations spent or committed according to Justice Department filings.
The Supreme Court is expected to weigh in further on whether construction may continue during the potentially lengthy litigation. The administration, which initially described the project as privately funded, has more recently emphasized national security justifications. Trump publicly thanked the Supreme Court and Chief Justice Roberts following the temporary order.
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