The Supreme Court issued a temporary order on Friday permitting the Trump administration to continue construction of the White House ballroom, pausing a lower court's injunction that would have halted above-ground work on the project. Chief Justice John Roberts granted an administrative stay while the Court considers the administration's emergency request regarding the legality of the construction without congressional approval.
This decision follows a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which stated that the construction of the ballroom requires congressional authorization. The appeals court's majority noted that the decision to build the addition is a matter for Congress, not the Executive branch. However, the court allowed a two-week pause on its ruling to give the administration time to seek relief from the Supreme Court.
The Trump administration has argued that the project is essential for national security and is already significantly underway, with approximately 65% of the construction completed. The administration stated that about $200 million in private donations has been spent or committed to the project, which is estimated to cost around $400 million in total.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit against the administration, contends that the construction cannot proceed without congressional approval and necessary reviews. The legal dispute is expected to escalate as the Supreme Court may ultimately decide on the underlying issues regarding the authority to construct the ballroom.
The Supreme Court's order does not specify when it will make a decision on further actions regarding the case, leaving the question of Trump's authority to proceed with the construction unresolved.