A US appeals court has allowed construction work on Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project to continue. The decision gives the administration permission to move ahead with both underground and above ground development until the next hearing on 5 June.
The court granted an administrative stay after the government challenged a previous order that had stopped the above ground work. That earlier ruling came from a federal judge who raised concerns about legal approval procedures.
Judge Raises Legal Concerns
Judge Richard Leon had earlier blocked parts of the construction. He said the project likely needed approval from Congress before starting. He also questioned claims that national security needs justified bypassing standard procedures.
Leon stated that national security cannot be used to override legal requirements. His ruling followed concerns that officials may have reclassified the project to avoid oversight rules.
Government Defends the Project
The Trump administration argued that stopping construction would create security risks and leave a large unfinished structure near the Executive Residence.
Officials also said the ballroom project includes secure underground facilities such as medical support areas and protective shelters. They claimed the project supports safety needs for high level meetings and presidential security.
Donald Trump also defended the project on social media. He said the ballroom is necessary for large diplomatic gatherings and accused the court of blocking essential security improvements. He insisted that no judge should be able to stop it.
Legal Challenge From Preservation Group
The dispute began after a historic preservation organization filed a lawsuit. The group argued that construction started without proper approval from the National Capital Planning Commission.
They also said the administration did not seek required congressional authorization before beginning work on the ballroom and underground structure. The group claimed this violated federal planning rules that protect historic government buildings.
Next Steps in the Case
The appeals court has not issued a final decision. Instead, it has paused the earlier ruling and allowed construction to continue for now. The next court hearing is scheduled for 5 June, where judges will review the legal and security arguments in more detail.
