National Trust says it won't drop suit against Trump's ballroom after DOJ request

[mystery-ak]

National Trust says it won't drop suit against Trump's ballroom after DOJ request

Preservationists say they will continue their lawsuit against President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom
ByMEG KINNARD Associated Press
April 27, 2026, 11:30 AM

WASHINGTON -- Preservationists are pressing ahead with their lawsuit against President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom, declining a request by the Department of Justice to withdraw the complaint following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.

Trump and other conservatives have made a renewed push for the ballroom in the wake of Saturday's media dinner shooting, arguing it exposed the difficulties in ensuring presidential security at large events outside the White House grounds, and urging the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit.

Top Justice officials said the government would ask a court to dismiss the lawsuit “in light of last night’s extraordinary events" if the Trust did not voluntarily drop it.

Trust attorney Gregory Craig declined that request, writing to the Justice Department that the legal issues at the heart of the lawsuit are unchanged.

“What Saturday’s awful event does not change is that the Constitution and multiple federal statutes require Congress to authorize construction of a ballroom on White House grounds, and that Congress has not done so," Craig wrote.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that Trump said would fit 999 people. Trump says the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for a below-ground bunker and security upgrades.

In its lawsuit, the Trust argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress.

A federal appeals court has allowed Trump to continue the project, ruling a day after a lower court judge continued to block above-ground construction on the site and scheduling a June 5 hearing to review the case.

https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/national-trust-drop-suit-trumps-400m-white-house-132423204

[Cyber Liberty]

We're all looking forward to the day a woman can walk her dog in peace and not have to see a White House with an East Wing built by Donald Trump.   

[mountaineer]

The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing

How do they have standing, and why did they wait until it pretty much was moot? What's to preserve?

[Smokin Joe]

How do they have standing, and why did they wait until it pretty much was moot? What's to preserve?

Great. We can host dignitaries on the National Construction Site.

(Hard hats, eye protection, and steel toed boots required by OSHA.)

[Free Vulcan]

How do they have standing, and why did they wait until it pretty much was moot? What's to preserve?

Exactly, but Marxists keep on keeping on, so they're going to have to be slapped down hard unfortunately I guess because it's the only thing they understand.

[DefiantMassRINO]

Whose name is on the deed and title?

Mass has too many Hysterical Preservationists who are obstructing progress.

This weekend demonstrated a need for a large, dedicated, secured function facility.

This was the 2nd attempted Presidential assassination at the Hinkley Hilton.