Supreme Court Allows Trump's $400M White House Ballroom Construction to Continue

Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday temporarily allowed construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom to continue while the Supreme Court considers the administration’s emergency appeal. Roberts issued an administrative stay hours before a lower-court order requiring above-ground work to stop was due to take effect. The dispute began after the administration demolished the White House East Wing and pursued a roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom project without specific congressional approval, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued. A divided D.C. Circuit panel upheld the construction halt on Aug. 7. The administration argues the project is necessary for presidential and national security, while preservationists contend Trump lacks unilateral authority to undertake such a major alteration. The Supreme Court’s one-page order did not address the case’s merits or set a timetable for a final decision. Construction can continue temporarily while the Supreme Court reviews the administration’s request.