Chief Justice Roberts allows Trump White House ballroom construction to continue for now
A temporary order pauses lower-court rulings that would have halted the $400 million project while the full Supreme Court considers the emergency appeal.
Washington1 min read
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Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary order on Friday allowing construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers the administration’s emergency request.
The order pauses lower-court decisions that would have forced a halt to above-ground work at midnight. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued, arguing the project requires congressional approval and causes irreversible damage to the historic site.
The planned 90,000-square-foot complex replaces the demolished East Wing. The administration says the project is 65 percent complete, with crews working 20-hour days. It includes security features described as a military complex vital for national security.
Trump welcomed the decision, calling the complex the greatest of its kind. The National Trust said the order is not a final ruling on the merits.
An appeals court had upheld a district judge’s injunction, giving the administration two weeks to seek Supreme Court relief. Roberts oversees emergency matters from the D.C. circuit.
