Supreme Court petition seeks to resume $400m White House ballroom construction

The Trump administration has petitioned the US Supreme Court to permit the continuation of construction on a $400 million ballroom at the White House East Wing. The request follows a 2-1 ruling by the DC Circuit Court on 7 August, which upheld a lower-court order halting above-ground construction due to a lack of congressional approval. Chief Justice John Roberts has set a deadline of Tuesday for a response from the plaintiffs challenging the project.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer described the ballroom as a "vitally required" component of an "integrated military complex" for national security. In the petition filed on Friday, Justice Department lawyers argued that the facility is essential for the president's safety, citing the 8 July missile threat against Air Force One and recent assassination attempts as justification for the secure space.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation accused the administration of attempting to "outrun the courts" by accelerating construction. The nonprofit, which initiated the legal challenge after the East Wing was demolished, cited plans to install 1 million pounds of rebar and pour 3,000 cubic yards of concrete within the week. The Trust has urged the Supreme Court to reject the administration's appeal.

The DC Circuit Court panel stated that the decision to construct a massive ballroom is a matter for Congress, not "Executive self-help." The 90,000-square-foot facility is planned for the site of the demolished East Wing. The administration claims the project is on time and under budget, funded by approximately $400 million in private donations.

Democrats have contested the funding source, suggesting Trump's tax law is facilitating payments, while noting Congress has not approved additional funding requests. The National Trust has argued that the administration's efforts to evade judicial review must stop, asserting that the rule of law should not be bypassed through rapid construction.