Background
A federal judge is poised to decide whether President Donald Trump can keep building a $300 million ballroom on the White House grounds, a move that has drawn fire from preservationists and raised questions about presidential power.
Administration Filing
On Monday, the Trump administration filed a 36‑page court document insisting that construction must continue for “unexplained national security reasons” and that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks standing to sue.
The filing contains a declaration from Matthew C. Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, who said the site of the former White House East Wing still requires work to meet the agency’s “safety and security requirements.” Quinn also warned that even a temporary halt would “consequently hamper” the agency’s ability to fulfill its statutory obligations and protective mission.
Legal Arguments
Quinn noted the administration would share classified details with the judge in a private, in‑person setting that excludes the plaintiffs, but the specific concerns were not explained publicly.
The East Wing had previously sat atop an emergency operations bunker that serves the president, a fact that underlies the agency’s emphasis on security.
The lawsuit, filed last Friday, argues that no president may tear down parts of the White House or build a ballroom on public property without the public’s input and without following required reviews by the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts, and Congress. The lawsuit states: “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever— not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else,” and “no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.”
Court Proceedings
A hearing on the case is scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington, where the parties will argue the merits of the project and the lawsuit.
Project Details
The administration’s response offers the most comprehensive look yet at the ballroom plan, revealing how it was swiftly approved by the Trump bureaucracy and how its scope has expanded.
John Stanwich, the National Park Service’s liaison to the White House, wrote that final plans remain unfinished even as demolition and other preparation work continue. Below‑ground work is ongoing, and foundation work is slated to begin in January.
Stanwich added that above‑ground construction “is not anticipated to begin until April 2026, at the earliest.”
Trump had the East Wing demolished in October as part of a plan to build a 90,000‑square‑foot (27,432‑square‑meter) ballroom that could hold about 1,000 people before his term ends in January 2029. He says the space would replace the temporary pavilions used for foreign dignitaries on the south grounds.
Administration Defense
In its filing, the administration cited the president’s long‑standing authority to modify the Executive Mansion, listing changes made over more than two centuries, and argued that the president is not subject to the statutes cited by the plaintiffs.
Department of Justice attorneys also said the plaintiffs’ claims about the East Wing demolition are “moot” because the tear‑down cannot be undone, and that claims about future construction are “unripe” because plans are not finalized.
DOJ and Irreparable Harm
The administration contended that the Trust cannot establish “irreparable harm” since above‑ground construction is not expected until spring, and that reviews with the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts will soon proceed without court involvement.
Conclusion
The ballroom project has drawn criticism from historic preservationists, architects, and political opponents, but the lawsuit represents the most concrete attempt so far to halt a plan that would add an addition nearly twice the size of the White House itself.
Hi, I’m Cameron R. Hayes, the journalist, editor, and creator behind NewsOfFortWorth.com. I built this platform with a simple purpose — to deliver fast, clear, and trustworthy news that keeps Fort Worth informed and connected.
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