The United States Supreme Court has temporarily allowed President Donald Trump’s $400m White House ballroom project to continue, pausing a lower-court order that would have halted much of the construction. Chief Justice John Roberts signed the order on Friday while the court considers an emergency appeal from the Trump administration.
The lower courts found that the project requires congressional approval. Roberts issued the temporary order because he oversees appeals involving cases from the Washington, DC, area; it does not resolve the broader legal dispute.
What the temporary order changes
The order pauses the effect of a ruling that was due to halt aboveground construction on Friday. The Supreme Court is considering the administration’s request to keep work moving while the case proceeds.
The administration has argued in court filings that the ballroom is required for national security reasons. Trump has previously described the project as a way to provide more space for state dinners and other events.
Related coverage: Court says Congress must approve Trump’s White House ballroom.
How the dispute reached the Supreme Court
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December, arguing that Trump does not have unilateral authority to undertake the construction. In April, US District Court Judge Richard Leon ordered a stop to aboveground work, while allowing construction necessary for the White House’s safety and security.
Earlier this month, a majority of a three-judge appeals court panel upheld Leon’s injunction. The appeals court then paused its ruling for 14 days so the administration could seek Supreme Court intervention; that period ended on Friday.
The project’s scale and financing
The planned ballroom is expected to cover about 8,400 square metres, or 90,000 square feet, making it larger than the White House’s main building. The administration says 65 percent of the work has been completed and that crews are working 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
More context: Trump seeks Supreme Court review to dismiss $83m defamation award to E Jean Carroll.
Justice Department lawyers said about $200m in private donations had been spent or committed. Trump has said the project would be privately funded, while critics have pointed to the administration’s requests for taxpayer funds. Work is also under way on a multi-storey bunker beneath the ballroom that would contain a hospital and military facilities.
Also read: White House faces scrutiny over aide Natalie Harp’s security clearance.
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