Federal judge orders halt to Trump White House ballroom project; DOJ to appeal

[mystery-ak]

Federal judge orders halt to Trump White House ballroom project; DOJ to appeal
District Judge Richard Leon delayed enforcement of the ruling for 14 days to allow time for the White House to appeal
 By Jasmine Baehr , Bill Mears , David Spunt , Jake Gibson Fox News

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said the group is likely to succeed on the merits of its case, writing that "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have," according to the ruling.

The injunction temporarily stops work on the project, though the judge delayed enforcement for 14 days to allow the White House time to appeal. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to appeal.

"I will therefore delay enforcement of the injunction for fourteen days," Leon wrote, noting the administration plans to seek immediate appellate review.

The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued the project required congressional authorization before moving forward.

In his opinion, Leon said construction could resume if Congress explicitly approves the project or authorizes funding, emphasizing that lawmakers retain authority over federal property and spending.

President Donald Trump blasted the lawsuit in a post on Truth Social, calling the National Trust for Historic Preservation a "Radical Left Group of Lunatics" and defending the ballroom project as "under budget" and "being built at no cost to the taxpayer."

"The National Trust for Historic Preservation sues me for a Ballroom that is under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World," the president wrote.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-orders-halt-trump-white-house-ballroom-project-doj-appeal

[berdie]

Could it be that this ruling should have come before the East Wing was torn down?

[libertybele]

Could it be that this ruling should have come before the East Wing was torn down?

Right.  I hope that the DOJ win the appeal, after all it isn't being funded by the taxpayers.  I see this is as just a malicious leftist maneuver. So .... seating dignitaries in tents and having them use port-a-potties is ok?

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2039107865609191552

[Timber Rattler]

So this lunatic lefty judge ruled that because there is NO law on the books that either authorizes OR prohibits Trump from improving the Executive grounds, then he has the right to meddle in clear Article III matters and ordering construction to stop?

His "memo" is an embarrassment, with every other sentence ending in an exclamation point.  Totally unserious.  If I was Trump, I'd order the construction crews to keep building and ignore that judge, thereby giving John Roberts some more heartburn.

[libertybele]

So this lunatic lefty judge ruled that because there is NO law on the books that either authorizes OR prohibits Trump from improving the Executive grounds, then he has the right to meddle in clear Article III matters and ordering construction to stop?

His "memo" is an embarrassment, with every other sentence ending in an exclamation point.  Totally unserious.  If I was Trump, I'd order the construction crews to keep building and ignore that judge, thereby giving John Roberts some more heartburn.

Anything that gives Roberts heartburn is a plus. 

[Timber Rattler]

Anything that gives Roberts heartburn is a plus. 

Yeah, it is irksome how Roberts always insists that these federal district judges are "hardworking" and "good faith" arbiters, trying to do the best they can, when they are anything but that. 

Surely he cannot be that willfully blind or naïve?

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2039803661858328826

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah, it is irksome how Roberts always insists that these federal district judges are "hardworking" and "good faith" arbiters, trying to do the best they can, when they are anything but that. 

Surely he cannot be that willfully blind or naïve?

Roberts is just a cog in the machine and he knows it.  He doesn't care if we all know it too.

[Cyber Liberty]

So this lunatic lefty judge ruled that because there is NO law on the books that either authorizes OR prohibits Trump from improving the Executive grounds, then he has the right to meddle in clear Article III matters and ordering construction to stop?

His "memo" is an embarrassment, with every other sentence ending in an exclamation point.  Totally unserious.  If I was Trump, I'd order the construction crews to keep building and ignore that judge, thereby giving John Roberts some more heartburn.

What memo is that?  Trump writes everything that way.  Did the Judge write one?

[Timber Rattler]

What memo is that?  Trump writes everything that way.  Did the Judge write one?

Yeah, the judge's order was in the form of a legal memo.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yeah, the judge's order was in the form of a legal memo.

OK, I can't see that and I'm fine with taking your word on that!   

[Kamaji]

The opinion can be downloaded here:  https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025cv4316-60

[Cyber Liberty]

The opinion can be downloaded here:  https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2025cv4316-60

IANAL, but it seems straightforward to me.   

[Smokin Joe]

He got it past planning and zoning! What's a judge?

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2039833924931600599

[mystery-ak]

Trump gives rare praise to persistent GOP foe after White House ballroom vote
The planning commission approved the privately funded project even as a federal judge ruled it needs Congressional approval
By Elaine Mallon Fox News
Published April 3, 2026 6:04pm EDT

President Donald Trump gave a rare shout out to longtime critic, Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, on Thursday after he voted to approve plans for the new White House ballroom.

"I would like to thank the hardworking Commissioners and Staff of the National Capital Planning Commission, who just voted overwhelmingly, 8-1, to approve the magnificent White House Ballroom now rising on this Hallowed Ground," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"I am pleased to announce that even Board Member Senator Rand Paul, known as an extraordinarily difficult vote, voted a strong YES."

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-gives-rare-praise-persistent-gop-foe-after-white-house-ballroom-vote

[libertybele]

Trump gives rare praise to persistent GOP foe after White House ballroom vote
The planning commission approved the privately funded project even as a federal judge ruled it needs Congressional approval
By Elaine Mallon Fox News
Published April 3, 2026 6:04pm EDT

President Donald Trump gave a rare shout out to longtime critic, Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, on Thursday after he voted to approve plans for the new White House ballroom.

"I would like to thank the hardworking Commissioners and Staff of the National Capital Planning Commission, who just voted overwhelmingly, 8-1, to approve the magnificent White House Ballroom now rising on this Hallowed Ground," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"I am pleased to announce that even Board Member Senator Rand Paul, known as an extraordinarily difficult vote, voted a strong YES."

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-gives-rare-praise-persistent-gop-foe-after-white-house-ballroom-vote

Well, should we pat Rand on the back???  Allowing the President to expand the ballroom and making it more elegant and welcoming, that isn't costing the taxpayers anything, shouldn't have been such a big deal in the first place.

[mystery-ak]

Trump admin urges restoring ballroom construction in emergency motion: 'Time is of the essence'
DOJ motion argues 'this order is untenable,' puts Trump security at risk
By Eric Mack Fox News
Published April 5, 2026 12:00pm EDT

The Trump administration filed an emergency motion to restore White House ballroom reconstruction, warning "time is of the essence" and saying President Donald Trump and his staff's "security and safety" are at risk by the judge's "untenable" ruling.

In the filing, Justice Department lawyers said the partially built project includes "deep Top Secret excavations, foundations, and structures" that must be completed quickly to protect sensitive construction and security features from exposure.

"This order is untenable and must be stayed in that the building is under construction, with deep Top Secret excavations, foundations, and structures, already built, and ready to receive heavily fortified, for security reasons, steel, bullet, ballistic, and blast proof glass, and drone proof roofing materials, which must be finished quickly, and not allowed to be exposed to the conditions and elements of an open construction site," Friday night's motion urges.

"Time is of the essence!"

The appeal asks the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to stay U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s order halting the project, which Leon ruled cannot proceed without congressional approval.

The administration argues the judge himself acknowledged that work needed to secure the White House grounds and protect the president and staff can continue.

"In granting this shocking, unprecedented, and improper injunction, one that could have been sought long ago, prior to the start of construction (in that there was full knowledge, through large scale media attention and publicity, that the White House ballroom was planned to be built, and there would have been a great deal of time for them to object, long before the start of construction, even though their objection would likewise have been baseless and frivolous), the district court took the erroneous, sweeping view that Congress did not authorize the ballroom construction at the White House — yet correctly allows construction 'necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House and its grounds, including the ballroom construction site, and provide for the personal safety of the President and his staff,'" the DOJ argued.

more
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-urges-restoring-ballroom-construction-emergency-motion-time-essence