The Trump administration has filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court requesting permission to continue construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. The request comes one week after an appeals court upheld an earlier ruling requiring the project to halt until Congress approves it. The appeals court decision is set to take effect on August 21 unless the Supreme Court grants the emergency request.
US Solicitor General D John Sauer argued in the filing that the stop-work order constitutes “construction-by-injunction” and poses dangers to national security. He noted that the project is 65% complete and that halting work would be inequitable. Sauer further contended that forcing the president to seek congressional approval for White House construction gives the legislature undue leverage. Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the original lawsuit, to respond by noon on Tuesday.
The National Trust filed suit after the administration demolished the East Wing to begin construction without congressional approval or the legally required review process, which includes public comment and approval from entities such as the National Capital Planning Commission. The organization has accused the administration of “refusing to listen” to previous rulings and accelerating construction to avoid judicial review.
The administration has argued that the ballroom project includes military facilities such as bomb shelters and medical treatment centers, making it a national security matter. Officials have also stated that the project is funded entirely through private corporate donations rather than taxpayer money, arguing this eliminates the need for congressional approval. The ballroom initiative is part of Trump’s broader effort to remake Washington’s appearance, which includes renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and a planned “Arc de Trump” monument.
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