Supreme Court allows Trump's ballroom construction to continue for now
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a stay allowing construction of a controversial ballroom at the White House to proceed temporarily. The project, which faces opposition from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been criticized for its $300 million cost and lack of congressional approval.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between executive authority and judicial oversight regarding the use of public funds and historic preservation.
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that President Trump can — for now — move forward with construction of his ballroom on the site of the former East Wing of the White House without needing approval from Congress.
The new ballroom is estimated to cost taxpayers at least $300 million despite the president saying repeatedly that taxpayers would not foot the bill.
The ruling comes after months of back and forth between the Trump administration and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued to stop the construction of the ballroom. The nonprofit organization has argued that the president must get approval from Congress to build over the East Wing of the White House, the side that held offices for the first lady.
The new ballroom is expected to be a 90,000-square-foot addition to the White House and twice the size of the main part of the White House complex.
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