Judge blocks above-ground construction of White House ballroom
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal judge, Richard Leon, has blocked the Trump administration from conducting above-ground construction on the proposed White House ballroom but permits below-ground work related to national security to continue.
- Above-ground construction is allowed only if it is necessary to cover and protect national security facilities and does not finalize the ballroom's size and scale.
- The order follows a directive from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, which asked Leon to clarify his previous injunction and reconsider national security concerns.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing to stop the ballroom project, arguing the president lacks authority to build such a structure without Congressional approval.
- Judge Leon emphasized that the president is a steward, not the owner, of the White House, underscoring limits on unilateral construction decisions.
