John Roberts lets Trump White House ballroom work continue for now

Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily allowed the White House ballroom construction to continue. The order keeps Trump's project moving as the court weighs limits on presidential power.

In Short

• Lower courts said the renovation required Congress before major construction could proceed
• The administration claims presidential authority covers federal buildings and security-driven changes
• Preservation advocates argue Trump cannot unilaterally alter a protected White House site

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has temporarily allowed the White House to continue construction on President Donald Trump’s USD 400 million ballroom project while the court considers an emergency appeal from the administration. Lower courts had ordered a halt to the work, saying the project needed congressional approval, and that ruling was due to take effect on Friday.

The dispute has reached the top court as Trump, a Republican, makes broad claims of presidential power and seeks to reshape Washington. The administration says the president has “total authority” to renovate the White House and other federal buildings and argues that the ballroom must be completed because of national security concerns. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the project, says Trump has no unilateral authority to carry out the work.

Roberts signed the temporary order on Friday. He did so because he handles appeals arising from Washington-based cases. The Trump administration has won a series of cases on the Supreme Court’s emergency docket, although the justices have also ruled against some of the president’s major policies after full hearings.

A district court judge in Washington, Richard Leon, had ordered a stop in April to aboveground construction on the planned ballroom. That ruling was suspended before an appeals court panel upheld it. Leon’s order allowed belowground work on bunkers and military installations to continue. Two appeals-court judges appointed by Democratic presidents said the project was for Congress to decide and was “not a matter for Executive self-help.” A third judge, appointed by Trump, said the preservation group had no legal right to sue.

The administration says 65 per cent of the work has already been completed on the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which is being built where the East Wing stood before Trump ordered its demolition. Justice Department lawyers told the court that crews are working 20 hours a day, seven days a week, and that about USD 200 million in private donations has been spent or committed. Solicitor General D. John Sauer called the decision stopping the work “extraordinary and unlawful” and said completion of the project was “vitally required by national security”.

When Trump first announced the ballroom plan, he did not stress national security and said the project would be funded by private donations, including from himself. Lawyers for the preservation group accused the White House of trying to “outrun the courts” by speeding up construction. For now, Roberts’ order means work on the ballroom can continue while the Supreme Court decides the administration’s appeal.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends