The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is invoking national security to justify the continuation of a massive, privately funded ballroom construction project at the White House. This move comes as a direct response to a federal lawsuit seeking to halt the work.
Lawsuit Seeks to Halt Construction for Reviews
Last Friday, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit asking a federal judge to stop the project. The group demands the plan undergo comprehensive independent design reviews, environmental assessments, public commentary, and formal congressional debate and ratification before proceeding further.
In a court filing on Monday, the Trump administration pushed back forcefully. It included a declaration from the deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, who stated that additional work on the site of the former White House East Wing is essential to meet the agency's strict safety and security protocols. To bolster its national security argument, the administration has offered to provide classified details to the presiding judge in a private, in-person setting without the plaintiffs present.
Project Timeline and Scope Revealed
The government's legal response provides the most detailed public look at the controversial project to date. It reveals that while demolition and site preparation continue, final plans for the ballroom itself are not yet complete. According to John Stanwich, the National Park Service's liaison to the White House, below-ground work is ongoing, with foundation construction slated to begin in January.
However, above-ground construction is not anticipated to start until April 2026 at the earliest. The project, which involves the demolition of the East Wing carried out in October, aims to build an estimated $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom before the end of Trump's term in 2029. The planned addition would be nearly twice the size of the original White House before the East Wing was torn down.
Legal Arguments and Next Steps
The administration's filing presents several legal defenses. It argues that claims regarding the East Wing demolition are "moot" since the tear-down cannot be reversed. It also contends that arguments about future construction are "unripe" because plans are not final, and the plaintiff cannot prove "irreparable harm" when major construction is years away.
Furthermore, the administration states that the design reviews and consultations with bodies like the National Capital Planning Commission "will soon be underway without this Court's involvement." A hearing in the case was scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington, D.C.
This lawsuit represents the most concrete challenge to a project that has drawn criticism from historic preservationists, architects, and political opponents. The National Trust for Historic Preservation did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the administration's latest filing.
