Trump administration seeks Supreme Court intervention to resume $400m White House ballroom construction
The US government has appealed a lower court injunction halting the project, claiming the facility is a vital component of the White House’s integrated military complex.
The Trump administration has formally requested that the US Supreme Court lift an injunction preventing construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. In filings submitted on Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) argued that the facility is essential for national security and must be completed as part of an integrated military complex.
The appeal comes in response to a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which ordered the construction halted unless the government obtains congressional approval. The appeals court established a deadline of August 21 for the work to stop, though it granted a 14-day stay to allow the DOJ to seek review from the highest court.
The DOJ characterised the injunction as extraordinary and unlawful, stating it would halt the construction of a "totally secure ballroom space" within the East Wing. The administration contends the facility is vitally required for national security, citing a series of failed assassination attempts as justification for the need for secure event hosting capabilities.
According to the government’s submission, the ballroom is designed to include bomb shelters, medical facilities, and defences against drones and missiles. The DOJ described these elements as being tied together into a single, complex unit necessary for the protection of the executive branch.
The legal challenge was initiated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in December, following the demolition of the East Wing to begin work on the 90,000 square foot structure. The appeals court upheld a previous order from District Court Judge Richard Leon, which specifically targeted above-ground construction that alters the visible characteristics of the White House.
In its decision, the appeals court panel stated that the decision to construct such a massive facility rests with Congress, not the executive branch. "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help," the ruling read.
President Trump has repeatedly defied court rulings regarding the project, describing the lower court’s decision as unjust and demanding its overturning. Critics have noted that the project’s cost to taxpayers has ballooned, contradicting earlier claims that it would be funded entirely through outside donations.
The ballroom project is part of a broader effort by the administration to transform the US capital, which has also included plans for a massive triumphal arch. The Supreme Court’s decision on the stay application remains pending.
