- The National Trust for Historic Preservation urged the Supreme Court not to let construction continue until the legal battle has been resolved, warning that the project "will in all likelihood become irreversible."
- Lower courts ruled that construction on the above-ground portion of the project should be halted on Aug. 21 unless the administration gets approval from Congress.
- The ballroom has been under construction for 10 months, and the administration states that the work is roughly 65% finished.
- A historic preservation group, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, urged the US Supreme Court to suspend the construction of Donald Trump’s White House ballroom while it considers the project's future.
- Trust attorneys stated that the administration 'cannot identify any statute granting them 'express authority' to destroy a third of the White House and replace it with a massive, privately funded ballroom, because none exists'.
- Lawyers for the trust accused the administration of trying to 'outrun judicial review' rather than obtain permission for the work from Congress, as required by federal law.
- The petition follows a divided appeals court panel's decision to uphold an order to pause aboveground construction on the project, which was initially ordered by US District Judge Richard Leon.
- Judge Leon wrote that 'no statute comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have'.
- The Justice Department contends that the current state of the project, essentially an open construction site, makes it harder to protect the White House.
- Trust attorneys mentioned that the preliminary injunction issued by the lower court is 'already narrowly tailored, and limited in scope and duration'.
- Chief Justice John Roberts set a deadline for the trust to respond in writing to the administration’s petition.
- Solicitor General D John Sauer asked the Supreme Court to rule on its stay petition before the appeals court panel’s decision takes effect on Friday.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a request with the Supreme Court to pause construction of Donald Trump's White House ballroom, citing concerns that the project, currently 65% complete, could become irreversible.
The group emphasized that the administration's admission that the project is 'on the brink of a fait accompli' underscores the urgency of their request.
Lawyers for the trust accused the Trump administration of attempting to 'outrun judicial review' and failing to secure necessary congressional approval for the $400 million project.
US District Judge Richard Leon previously ruled that 'no statute comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have,' reinforcing the trust's position.
The appeals court has upheld an order to pause above-ground construction, which the administration is contesting.
Chief Justice John Roberts has set a deadline for the trust to respond to the administration's petition, as the legal battle continues over the future of the ballroom.
The National Trust argues that the current state of the project, described as an open construction site, complicates efforts to protect the historic integrity of the White House.
The trust's attorneys maintain that the preliminary injunction is 'already narrowly tailored, and limited in scope and duration,' indicating a focused approach to the legal challenges at hand.
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation stated that the administration's 'striking admission' about the project being 'on the brink of a fait accompli' underscores the urgency to pause construction. Additionally, trust attorneys emphasized that the administration lacks any statute granting them 'express authority' to proceed with the project.”
The Guardian
