President Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom project is now headed toward the Supreme Court after his administration asked the justices to allow construction to continue.
The legal fight has quickly become one of the most closely watched disputes surrounding Trump’s White House renovation plans.
The administration is asking the Supreme Court to intervene after a federal appeals court ruled that above-ground construction could not proceed without congressional approval.
The proposed ballroom is expected to cost more than $400 million and would occupy the site of the former East Wing of the White House. The administration has argued that the project is privately funded and includes important security features.
The appeals court’s decision represented a major setback for Trump.
A divided three-judge panel ruled that Trump did not have unilateral authority to proceed with the construction and upheld an order blocking the above-ground portion of the project. The court temporarily delayed enforcement of its ruling to give the administration time to appeal.
Trump’s administration is now asking the Supreme Court to let construction continue while the broader legal case moves forward.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer has argued that stopping the project could create security concerns and has described the planned structure as part of an integrated security and military complex.
The administration has pointed to protective features planned for the building and has cited recent security threats involving the president as part of its argument.
The White House has also argued that Congress has already provided sufficient authority for the project.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the administration believes Congress has already authorized the construction, even as the court fight continues.
Opponents strongly disagree.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has challenged the project in court, arguing that the administration failed to follow required legal and preservation procedures before moving forward with such a major alteration to the White House complex.
The dispute has now raised a much larger constitutional and legal question.
How much authority does a president have to dramatically alter the White House without explicit approval from Congress?
That question is at the center of the Supreme Court fight.
The administration has also warned that stopping construction now could cause significant disruption because the project is already substantially underway. According to court filings, the government says the project was roughly 65% complete when it asked the Supreme Court for relief.
The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether to allow construction to continue.
For Trump, the decision could determine the immediate future of one of his most visible White House projects.
For his critics, meanwhile, the case represents a test of presidential power and whether the administration can bypass congressional approval for major changes to the White House complex.
With the legal battle now before the nation’s highest court, Washington is waiting to see whether the justices will step in — or allow the lower court’s restrictions to take effect.
