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Supreme Court Allows White House Ballroom Construction to Continue
Confirmed
In Short: In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court halted lower court rulings that would have temporarily blocked the construction of a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House.
In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court halted lower court rulings that would have temporarily blocked the construction of a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, where the East Wing once stood. The high court said in an unsigned opinion that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed a lawsuit to block the project, likely did not have the legal right to sue.
The court ruled that lower court judges 'likely exceeded' their authority by blocking the ballroom. The majority pointed to sworn declarations from top administration officials, including the director of National Intelligence and heads of the Secret Service, Army, and the State Department, who said the ballroom was necessary and that any significant pause in construction would harm national security facilities being built underground.
Chief Justice Roberts had temporarily allowed work on the ballroom to continue earlier this month, giving the Supreme Court more time to weigh the Trump administration's bid for emergency relief. The overhaul also includes an underground bunker, medical facilities, and other features, and judges have allowed that work to continue.
The Trump administration requested emergency relief from the court earlier this month after a federal appeals court ruled the White House lacked authority to build the $400 million project without congressional approval. The D.C. Circuit concluded that Congress, not Mr. Trump or the White House, has 'full constitutional control over federal property and the funding of its maintenance and development.
Background
In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court are binding on all other courts in a nation and are not subject to further review by any other court.
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the national capital was moved from Philadelphia.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court halted lower court rulings that would have temporarily blocked the construction of a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood.
- The high court said in an unsigned opinion that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed a lawsuit to block the project, likely did not have the legal right to sue.
- Roberts had temporarily allowed work on the ballroom to continue earlier this month, giving the Supreme Court more time to weigh the Trump administration's bid for emergency relief.
- In its unsigned opinion, the court ruled that lower court judges "likely exceeded" their authority by blocking the ballroom.
- The majority pointed to sworn declarations from top administration officials, including the director of National Intelligence and heads of the Secret Service, Army and the State Department, who said the ballroom was…
- "Today, we do not pass upon the legality of the government's East Wing project," the court said.
- "The White House is not just any building, and — when it comes to historic preservation — Hoagland is not just any person," he wrote.
- "We are pleased with Chief Justice Robert's strong dissent, which reiterated what we have maintained from the start of our case — that construction of the White House ballroom is unlawful," Leggs said in a statement.