Preservation Group Asks Supreme Court to Halt White House Ballroom Work

A historic preservation organization has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to halt construction of the White House ballroom project while the court weighs whether the work should proceed. The request was filed on Tuesday, less than a week after the Trump administration asked the justices to allow the project to continue.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the original lawsuit to block the construction, argues that the administration is attempting to bypass congressional approval. In its filing, the group's lawyers stated that the administration has decided to "try to outrun judicial review" rather than seek permission from Congress.

The project, valued at $400 million, involves the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom and has already included the demolition of the White House's East Wing. The work is part of a broader effort to rapidly transform the capital.

The petition follows a divided appeals court ruling that upheld a pause on aboveground construction. That ruling was temporarily suspended to allow the administration to appeal. The lower court order, issued by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, concluded that "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have."

The administration maintains that the president has unimpeded authority to renovate the White House, independent of Congress or the courts. The Justice Department has also argued that the current state of the site, which is essentially an open construction area, makes it harder to secure the building. Additionally, the administration contends that the preservation group lacks the legal standing to bring the lawsuit.