The Trump administration told US District Judge Richard Leon on Tuesday that it will meet with the non-profit preservation group and the Commission of Fine Arts to review plans for the ballroom
A federal judge has greenlit US President Donald Trump’s plan to build a ballroom at the White House, rejecting an appeal from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to temporarily block the project.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation
filed a lawsuit on Friday, saying that the White House did not seek the necessary reviews before demolishing the East Wing in October.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration told US District Judge Richard Leon on Tuesday that it will meet with the non-profit preservation group and the Commission of Fine Arts to review plans for the ballroom.
Although attorneys for both sides acknowledged on Tuesday that they are not architectural experts, much of the discussion focused on whether underground construction already underway would limit or prevent changes to the ballroom’s design.
When will construction begin?
Judge Leon noted that if the government does construction below the ground that prevents the court from changing its order regarding what happens above the ground, “the government should be prepared to take it down.”
In a court filing on Monday, the Trump administration said “above-ground structural work” on the ballroom is not expected to begin before April, and that the overall project is slated for completion by the summer of 2028. Trump has said the new building would enable future presidents to host large events indoors rather than on the South Lawn.
“We’re going to have something that’s really, really spectacular. And I thank the judge in the case for the courage in making the proper decision, because we didn’t want to be held up,” Trump said, hailing the judge’s order.
What did the group say in its plea?
The group had asked a federal group to order the halt of construction of the ballroom, pitched as a “much-needed and exquisite addition”. It says rebuilding should only be allowed after the White House “complies with the law by going through the legally mandated review processes”.
Carol Quillen, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said, “The White House is arguably the most evocative building in our country and a globally recognised symbol of our powerful American ideals.”
In the lawsuit, the group claims the White House violated the law by starting construction without submitting plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, failing to conduct an environmental assessment of the project, and refusing to seek authorisation from Congress.
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