The United States Supreme Court has issued a temporary order halting the construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project, effectively pausing a judicial order issued by lower courts that would have halted much of the development. The order, signed by Chief Justice John Roberts, allows work to continue while the court considers an emergency appeal from the Trump administration. Lower courts had ordered a halt to the project, finding it must receive congressional approval, a ruling set to take effect on Friday. Roberts authorized the order because he oversees appeals of cases based in the Washington, D.C., area. The case stems from a dispute over whether the Trump administration has the authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings as it sees fit, a point that has been a central focus of the court’s deliberations. The court is currently considering a complex legal challenge, with six justices appointed by right-wing presidents compared to three named by left-leaning leaders, reflecting a conservative judicial landscape. The Trump administration has aggressively pursued construction projects in Washington, D.C., asserting its authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings, a position bolstered by a significant amount of private donations, totaling approximately $200 million, according to court documents. The project’s projected size is substantial, with the planned structure expected to measure roughly 8,400 square meters (90,000 square feet), dwarfing the White House’s main building. Trump also touted the project as a means to expand presidential power and shape the capital in his own image. The project’s initial funding came from private donations, although critics argue that the administration has relied on taxpayer funds, as well. In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit arguing that Trump’s unilateral authority to undertake the work is unconstitutional. Lawyers for the preservation group accused the White House of attempting to ‘outrun the courts’ by accelerating construction in recent months, despite injunctions to pause the work. The Trump administration argues that 65 percent of the project’s work has already been completed, with crews working 20 hours a day, seven days a week, and $200 million in private donations committed to the project. Leon, who was appointed under Republican President George W. Bush, ordered a stop to underground construction on the ballroom, emphasizing that the president is not the owner of the White House and that such dramatic changes should require congressional approval. Leon did, however, include a carve-out to allow necessary construction to proceed if it ensured ‘the safety and security of the White House’. Below the ballroom, work is underway to create a multi-storey bunker that would house a hospital and military facilities. An appeals court ruling, however, was paused for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to petition the Supreme Court. Two judges, both appointed by Trump, ruled that the National Trust for Historic Preservation had no legal right to sue and called the court’s injunction a ‘blatant abuse of discretion’. The appeals court ruling, however, was paused for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to petition the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court granted the emergency stay, effectively halting the project while the administration continues to prepare its appeal.”}
Source: Al Jazeera
