Judge Again Halts Aboveground Construction on Trump Ballroom
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A judge has ordered a halt to aboveground construction on President Trump’s White House ballroom until Congress authorizes the project, rejecting the administration's claim that it qualifies as a critical national security upgrade.
- Judge Richard J. Leon ruled that security features like bulletproof windows do not exempt the ballroom project from legal restrictions protecting the historic White House from unauthorized alterations.
- The judge emphasized that national security concerns do not provide unlimited authority to bypass laws governing historic buildings.
- Construction work below ground, including on a bunker deemed necessary for national security, is allowed to continue, with the administration given until April 23 to file a new appeal.
- This ruling intensifies the ongoing legal dispute over the scope of presidential authority in modifying the White House grounds without Congressional approval.
