Judge allows White House ballroom project to proceed

WASHINGTON (TNND) — A federal judge declined to stop construction of a ballroom President Donald Trump is planning to build where the East Wing of the White House was demolished.

The ruling clears the way for work to continue onto the planned addition that has drawn backlash and legal challenges over its scale and changes to the historical site without approval from Congress.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled the group that filed the challenge, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its lawsuit to halt construction. However, he said the group could file its lawsuit to focus more directly on the president’s power to make changes without input from Congress that would be considered “expeditiously” if filed.

“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the President’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, Plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the President claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” he wrote.

The group had asked the judge to halt the project until it goes through independent reviews and backing from Congress.

Leon wrote the plaintiffs used the wrong justification in using the Administrative Procedure Act to block the project and said it did not apply to the White House executive residence. He also said the National Trust relied on a “ragtag group of theories” to stop construction.

Trump said in a social media post that the ruling was “Great news for America!”

“The Ballroom construction, which is anticipated to also handle future Inaugurations and large State Visits, is ahead of schedule, and under budget. It will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!” he said.

The ballroom project was announced last summer, and the East Wing of the White House was demolished in the fall. The White House has said the project is being funded by private donations and pay for the construction of a 90,000 square-foot ballroom capable of holding 999 people. Government attorneys said in filings above-ground construction on the ballroom is starting in April.

Work on the project was launched before it was reviewed by two federal review panels, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. The arts commission approved the project last week, while the planning commission will hold a meeting to discuss it on March 5.