The United States Supreme Court has permitted the White House to proceed with construction on a $400 million ballroom project while lawsuits are ongoing. This decision, which was divided 5-4, replaces a temporary order issued earlier this month that had allowed construction to continue just before a court-ordered halt was set to take effect. Chief Justice John Roberts, who signed the temporary order, expressed his dissent, stating that the project is 'likely unlawful' due to the lack of congressional approval and that the decision does not uphold the separation of powers.
The majority opinion did not address the legality of the project but indicated that a preservation group likely did not possess the legal standing to challenge it. The court cited national security concerns as a reason for allowing the project to continue. The lawsuit will return to lower courts, but documents indicate that significant portions of the project could be completed within months.
The Trump administration requested the Supreme Court's intervention after federal courts mandated a halt to the project due to the absence of congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit, arguing that President Trump lacks the unilateral authority to undertake the construction, which includes the demolition of the East Wing. The group's lawyers accused the administration of attempting to expedite construction to bypass the courts.
In prior court proceedings, the Trump administration contended that the president has full authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings, asserting that the ballroom project is necessary for national security, despite this not being the initial rationale when the project was announced. The administration's lawyers described the injunction halting construction as 'extraordinary and unlawful' and emphasized the project's importance for national security.
Construction crews are reportedly working 20 hours a day on the 8,400 square meter (90,000 square foot) ballroom, with the framework expected to be completed by November and much of the facade finished by April, aiming for full completion by August 2028. A US District Judge had previously ordered a stop to aboveground construction in April, although work on underground military installations was allowed to continue. The ruling was upheld by a divided appeals court panel, with differing opinions among the judges regarding the project's legality and authority.
The East Wing, which was demolished, previously housed the first lady's offices and the White House movie theater and was originally built in 1902, with significant expansions made in 1942.