Federal Judge Allows Trump's $300M White House Ballroom Construction to Continue Despite Preservationist Lawsuit

A federal judge has allowed President Donald Trump's controversial $300 million White House ballroom construction project to move forward, rejecting a request by preservationists to immediately halt the work while denying their claims of "irreparable harm." U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said Tuesday he was inclined to deny the National Trust for Historic Preservation's request for a temporary restraining order, though he warned the administration against making irreversible decisions about underground infrastructure work. The judge indicated he could issue a final decision on the restraining order by Wednesday and plans to hold another hearing in January. The Trump administration has defended the project as a matter of national security, filing a 36-page court response that included a declaration from Matthew C. Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service. Quinn stated that additional work on the site of the former White House East Wing remains necessary to meet the agency's "safety and security requirements," though the filing did not explain specific security concerns. The administration has offered to share classified details about the project with Judge Leon in a private meeting without the plaintiffs present, underscoring the sensitive nature of the security considerations involved. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit last Friday, alleging that the Trump administration broke ground on the expansive White House property revamp before submitting plans to the National Capital Planning Commission and without required Congressional approval for construction on federal park land in Washington, D.C. The preservation group is seeking to halt the project until it undergoes multiple independent reviews, a public comment period, and wins approval from Congress. The lawsuit has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats who oppose the dramatic changes to the historic White House grounds. During Tuesday's court proceedings, Justice Department attorney Adam Gustafson told the court that the administration expects to meet with both the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts within the next two weeks to review plans that are not yet finalized. Judge Leon ordered the Trump administration to submit complete plans for the ballroom project to federal oversight entities by the end of the month. "Let me assure you of something: The court will hold them to that," Leon said. "They have until then to get it done." The ballroom construction represents one of the most significant alterations to the White House complex in decades, replacing the historic East Wing with a new entertainment facility. The project's rapid approval and the administration's invocation of national security concerns have intensified scrutiny from preservation groups and political opponents. While construction continues for now, the January hearing will determine whether the government has followed proper protocols and whether further legal action is warranted. The case highlights the ongoing tension between presidential prerogatives, historic preservation, and national security considerations at America's most famous residence.