President Donald Trump has formally asked the Supreme Court to allow continuous construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, citing national security and the need for a large event space. The request follows a week‑old order from an appellate court that halted the construction until Congress granted approval.
The White House’s solicitor general, Donald Sauer, presented the emergency application, arguing that stopping work would amount to a "construction‐by‐injunction" and would be "dangerous" for the administration’s operations. He noted that the project is nearly 65 % complete.
Trump has long insisted that the ballroom would enhance security and accommodate large gatherings, while also adding military facilities such as bomb shelters and medical centers. The administration maintains that the project is privately funded and that congressional approval is not legally required.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit last year challenging the construction, claiming it proceeded without required reviews, public comment, or approvals from bodies such as the National Capital Planning Commission. The appeals court’s stay, effective August 21, came after the Justice Department’s lawsuit was dismissed.
If the Supreme Court grants the emergency relief, construction could resume; if it denies, the ballroom project would be halted permanently. The case highlights ongoing tensions over executive‑branch authority versus congressional oversight in federal building projects.
