US Supreme Court lets Trump continue White House ballroom construction for now
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- The Supreme Court issued a temporary administrative stay on Friday allowing Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project to continue while it considers the government's request, blocking a lower-court order that would have stopped above-ground construction that same day.
- Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles emergency matters from Washington DC, issued the stay; the decision is explicitly not a final ruling on the merits.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the administration after the East Wing was demolished without congressional approval, and noted after Friday's action that "this is not a final decision on the merits."
- The DC Circuit Court upheld the construction halt in a 2-1 ruling on August 7, with Judge Richard Leon presiding at the district level; the appellate court rejected national security as an automatic override, warning such claims "are not an automatic get-out-of-law-free card."
- The Justice Department argued the project is essential to national security, citing assassination attempts against Trump, and said the East Wing project is now 65% complete.
- The ballroom — described by Trump as a "Military/Ballroom Complex" — is part of his broader Washington makeover that also includes a planned 250-foot arch and changes to the Kennedy Center.
Why it matters: With the East Wing project already 65% complete and every court so far ruling against the administration's unilateral authority, the stay buys Trump time to finish building while the legal question of whether Congress must approve the overhaul is decided. The National Trust warned the administration needs "express approval from Congress," meaning Trump could face a forced teardown if the Supreme Court ultimately rules against him.
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