A divided US Supreme Court has allowed the White House to proceed with the construction of a $400 million ballroom project while lawsuits continue, marking a victory for President Donald Trump as he exercises unprecedented executive power and reshapes the capital in his image.
The apparent 5-4 decision replaces a temporary order that had permitted construction earlier this month. Chief Justice John Roberts, who handled emergency appeals from the capital, publicly disagreed with the latest ruling, writing a strong dissent that referenced historical figures and called the project “likely unlawful” because it lacks congressional approval.
“Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers,” Roberts wrote, joined by the court’s three liberal-leaning justices. The majority did not rule on the project’s legality but found that a preservation group likely lacked the legal standing to challenge it. The unsigned opinion also cited national security concerns raised by the government.
The case will return to lower courts, but court documents indicate that key portions of the project could be completed within months—a rapid timeline compared to typical litigation. The Trump administration had asked the justices to intervene after federal courts ordered a halt due to the lack of congressional approval.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit, arguing that Trump has no unilateral authority to undertake the work, which has included demolishing the East Wing. The group’s lawyers accused the White House of trying to “outrun the courts” by accelerating construction.
In lower courts, the Trump administration argued that the president has total authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings. Government lawyers said the ballroom project must be completed for national security reasons, though these were not initially cited when Trump announced the work and said it would be funded by private donations.
The administration stated that crews are working 20 hours a day on the planned 8,400-square-meter (90,000-square-foot) ballroom. The framework is expected to be completed in November, with much of the facade done by April, and full completion slated for August 2028, according to court documents.
The demolished East Wing housed the first lady’s offices and the White House movie theater. It was originally built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency and greatly expanded in 1942 during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency.
Source: www.aljazeera.com