The Supreme Court temporarily blocked lower court orders regarding the ballroom. It allows President Donald Trump to proceed with the construction of a White House ballroom. The provisional administrative stay gives the justices more time to consider the administration’s emergency appeal.
The new ballroom is estimated to cost taxpayers at least $300 million. The danger of assassinations has raised the cost considerably as the president adds military security.
The ruling comes after months of back-and-forth between the Trump administration and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Trust sued to stop construction of the ballroom. The nonprofit organization has argued that the president must obtain congressional approval to build over the East Wing. Why? The President is in charge of the executive, not the legislative branch.
The Trust is a left-wing, self-appointed Capitol protection racket.
The Supreme Court Rules
The new ballroom is expected to be a 90,000-square-foot addition to the White House and twice the size of the main part of the White House complex.
Trump has argued for months that the new ballroom is a necessity, often pointing to the lack of space to host events with foreign dignitaries. He’s also said that the ballroom will house critical national security benefits, including bomb shelters, a hospital, sniper nests and a drone port.
The Supreme Court had until Friday to weigh in after lower courts had differing rulings on the ballroom for the last few months.
In a brief order, signed by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court stayed the lower court ruling to pause construction.
In their brief filed earlier this week, the trust asserted that if the Supreme Court allowed construction to continue at this time, they were effectively ending the case.
So, it’s likely over.
President Trump was grateful. He wrote:
We are grateful for the Decision of the United States Supreme Court. The Military/Ballroom Complex being built on the hallowed grounds of the White House, which is so vital for National Security, will be THE GREATEST OF ITS KIND! It is something that Presidents have wanted for 150 years, and that the Military has been seeking for the last 100 years. Their wish will soon be fulfilled! Construction is under budget and ahead of schedule. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP