The Trump administration asked the US supreme court to keep the White House ballroom building dispute moving today after the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit ordered the work stopped last week. The filing asks the justices to let construction of the $400m project continue while the administration prepares a full appeal.
Donald Trump and the White House
The government told the court that the case involves "this case involves an extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White House, which is vitally required by national security." It also described the project as "every part" of "an integrated whole geared toward remedying security deficiencies and bringing critical improvements to the White House."
The same filing said, "The entire ballroom structure is designed to shield the military installation beneath it." The administration said the supreme court justices should keep the appeals court decision on hold while it prepares its full appeal, a request that would let the dispute stay at the justices' level while the lower-court order remains in place.
US Congress ruling
Last week, the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit said the project lacked the necessary approval from US Congress. The government said its lawyer told the court that stalling the construction would leave Donald Trump "much less safe" and would put future presidents' safety at risk.
The appeals court ruling blocks above-ground construction of the ballroom but allows work on the underground security structure to continue. That leaves the practical split in the project clear: visible work stops unless the supreme court changes the order, while the below-ground security work can still proceed under the appeals court ruling.
White House East Wing
The administration described the ballroom construction as vitally required by national security. Its filing ties the project to security work at the East Wing of the White House and says the structure above it is meant to protect what sits underneath, not just add a new room.
The justices will decide whether to leave the appeals court order on hold while the administration pursues the full appeal. The disputed point now is whether the White House ballroom project had the congressional approval the lower court said was missing.
