Judge orders Trump administration to halt White House ballroom construction
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Soapbox
sheetsadam1 — Yesterday(March 31, 2026 07:42 PM)
https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-ballroom-construction-halted-9cafc70569a3a05fcbaa6cafddbeace4
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to suspend its construction of a $400 million ballroom where it demolished the East Wing of the White House, barring construction work from proceeding without congressional approval.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a preservationist group’s request for a preliminary injunction that temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project.
Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, concluded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”
“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!,” he wrote.
Leon suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that the case “raises novel and weighty issues, that halting an ongoing construction project “may raise logistical issues.” He also recognized that the administration is likely to appeal his decision.
The judge ruled that any construction work that’s necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House is exempt from the scope of the injunction. Leon said he reviewed material that the government privately submitted to him before concluding that halting construction wouldn’t jeopardize national security.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The preservationists sued to obtain an order pausing the ballroom project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and receives congressional approval.
The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer. By late October, Trump had demolished the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that he said would fit 999 people. The White House said private donations, including from Trump himself, would pay for the planned construction of a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom.
Trump proceeded with the project before seeking input from a pair of federal review panels, the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. Trump has stocked both commissions with allies.
On Feb. 26, Leon rejected the preservationist group’s initial bid to temporarily halt the ballroom’s construction. He said the privately funded group had based its challenge on a “ragtag group” of legal theories and would have a better chance of success if it amended the lawsuit, which it did.
The administration has said above-ground construction on the ballroom would begin in April.
“We are two weeks away,” plaintiffs’ attorney Thaddeus Heuer said during a March 17 hearing. “The imminence is now imminent.”
During the hearing, Leon sounded skeptical of what he referred to as the government’s “shifting theories and shifting dynamics” for its arguments in the case.
“I don’t think it’s a new theory,” Justice Department attorney Jacob Roth told the judge.
Leon expressed frustration at Roth’s attempts to equate the massive ballroom project with relatively modest construction work at the White House under previous administrations.
“This is an iconic symbol of this nation,” the judge said.
The administration argued that other presidents didn’t need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, large and small.
“Many of those projects were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted — even beloved — parts of the White House,” government attorneys wrote.
Draft Barron Trump -
sheetsadam1 — Yesterday(March 31, 2026 08:23 PM)
If I were in charge, the White House wouldn't even exist as anything more than a historical tourist attraction. Housing would be built that is up to the same standard as non-officers on military bases and the President, cabinet and all members of Congress would live there. They would also need to put all of their assets in a blind trust upon assuming office and would receive the median American salary and be barred from investing or gambling. If their tax returns shows a penny more, they go to prison.
Draft Barron Trump -
sheetsadam1 — Yesterday(March 31, 2026 08:33 PM)
How can politicians be expected to represent everyday Americans when they never have to pay for their own groceries, their own utilities, their own travel, etc.? It's time to put an end to these welfare queens getting a free ride.
Draft Barron Trump -
LorqVonRay1999 — 23 hours ago(March 31, 2026 08:43 PM)
I think you need to take a break from politics.
And do you likewise condemn your Somali scum friends for now what is over $9 billion in fraud?
You liberals are scared to death of saying anything negative about Muslims. -
sheetsadam1 — 23 hours ago(March 31, 2026 08:46 PM)
You mean the Somali fraud that the Biden administration prosecuted?
https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-against-47-defendants-250-million-feeding-our-future
Draft Barron Trump -
LorqVonRay1999 — 21 hours ago(March 31, 2026 11:09 PM)
No, I mean the Somali fraud your liberal governor, your liberal A-G and your liberal mayor helped cover up.
That's all on your side.
I notice you never bring that up.
But a ballroom funded privately that will benefit all future White House administrations?
That's going too far!
This is why I do not take you seriously.
You are too one-sided on everything. -
LorqVonRay1999 — 19 hours ago(April 01, 2026 01:21 AM)
We have a liberal governor.
Our state is turning into the biggest cesspool since LA.
But we live in the conservative part of the state.
Almost no crime at all and it's clean.
I've lived under liberal cities and conservatives ones.
Conservatives are exponentially better. -
CoffeeMugShot — 21 hours ago(March 31, 2026 11:12 PM)
You liberals are scared to death of saying anything negative about Muslims.
Naw.
We will call it when we see it.
The ones who are scared to death are those of you in Cult 47 who will never point out any of the negative things Trump is doing and keeps on doing. -
LorqVonRay1999 — 21 hours ago(March 31, 2026 11:16 PM)
You are scared to death of saying anything negative about Muslims.
Proof?
Perfect example.
6/12/2016
Orlando at a gay nightclub
Initial reports of a mass shooting
Liberals immediately assumed the shooter was Christian and started condemning them
The moment the name of the shooter was revealed liberals immediately blamed the gun instead and did not bring up the fact he's Muslim
You are scared to say anything remotely bad about Muslims
By the way, he killed 49 people and wounded 58.
And you can also look up Ft Hood shooting? Not quite as bad but you liberals called it 'workplace violence'.
Or the time one of your Muslims beheaded a woman at work.
There are plenty of examples.
