President Donald Trump speaks to the press about the new East Wing next to the construction site at the White House on May 19. An appeals court will hear arguments today about why the project should be allowed to proceed. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
A federal appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments Friday about whether the President Donald Trump administration has the authority to build a White House ballroom without approval from Congress.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit agreed to allow construction to continue until it rules on whether the project can continue.
“The Ballroom is on time, under budget, and free to the American taxpayer, while benefiting future Presidents by serving as a ‘safe haven’ from attackers such as the two recent would-be assassins,” the Justice Department wrote in court filings. The two “would-be assassins” mentioned are the alleged shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and the man who fired a gun outside the White House perimeter.
Trump has described the proposed building as having “military-grade security.”
A lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation stopped the project when Federal Judge Richard Leon ruled in their favor.
“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 in March.
The law allows the president to do maintenance and upkeep on the White House, but not to do major construction without approval from Congress.
The administration is now hoping the appeals court will reverse Leon’s decision.
This week in Washington
President Donald Trump discusses renovations to the Lincoln Reflecting Pool and makes an announcement on coal in the Oval Office at the White House on Thursday. Photo by Samuel Corum/UPI | License Photo
