“Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,” the court said, adding that its decision has little to do with policy and politics. “This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom.”
A federal appeals court has ordered President Donald Trump to again halt construction of its planned $400 million ballroom-addition to the White House.
According to PBS, a three-judge appellate panel on Friday found that Trump does not have the unilateral authority to order construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom amid the ruins of the White House’s former East Wing.
In response to the ruling, Trump took to social media to decry the “unjust decision” and vow further appeals.
PBS notes that the Friday ruling marks the second time this week that the Trump administration’s varied construction and beautification plans have come under legal scrutiny. Earlier, an assessment by the National Park Service found that the 250-foot-tall triumphal arch proposed by the president could compromise the “historical significance” of dozens of sites between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
In its 2-1 decision today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with historical-preservationist groups seeking an end to construction on the White House. While the court ruled against the administration, it agreed to stay its ruling for two weeks to give the president time to proceed with his planned appeal to the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, in the absence of any higher order, the panel’s majority described the project in abruptly cynical terms.
“Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,” the court said, adding that its decision has little to do with policy and politics. “This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom.”
“What it does mean,” the judges said, “is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorization, as the Constitution and laws require.”
Trump, in response to the court’s verdict, took to social media to vent, complaining that the planned expansion will, if allowed to proceed, be so much more than a simple ballroom, encompassing bomb shelters, a hospital, and “Top Secret Military Facilities.”
“The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents,” Trump said.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a plaintiff in proceedings, meanwhile celebrated the ruling, saying the court’s decision affirms “the American people’s right to voice their opinions about the historic places they cherish.”
“From the beginning, our position has been clear and consistent: the law states that only Congress can authorize the construction of a ballroom at the White House,” said Brent Leggs, the group’s CEO. “We are pleased with the DC Circuit Court’s decision to uphold the District Court’s preliminary injunction, which although stayed for 14 days will block any above-ground ballroom construction unless and until Congress takes action.”
Sources
Appeals court rules Trump can’t build White House ballroom without congressional approval
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