A US federal judge, Richard Leon, ruled on Tuesday that President Donald Trump cannot proceed with a $400 million ballroom construction project on White House grounds without congressional approval. In the court order, Judge Leon emphasized that "the President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!" and added, "Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!"
The project was planned for the site of the White House's East Wing, which was demolished last year. While the Trump administration has claimed the ballroom is a necessary addition to the White House complex, the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit alleging that the president had exceeded his authority. Judge Leon, an appointee of former Republican President George W. Bush, granted a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting construction until the legal matter is resolved.
The Trump administration was given 14 days to appeal the decision and filed an appeal shortly after the ruling was issued. President Trump responded on his social media platform Truth Social, referring to the National Trust as a group of left-wing "lunatics" and defending the ballroom as "under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World." Carol Quillen, CEO of the preservation group, stated that the ruling is "a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation."
This case highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and preservation advocates, as the National Trust has also challenged the administration's move to overhaul the Kennedy Center performing arts venue in Washington, which Trump unilaterally renamed the Trump Kennedy Center. The legal battle underscores broader issues of executive authority and historical conservation in the US political landscape.
Source: www.dw.com