Trump asks Supreme Court to allow ballroom construction to continue
by Danielle Haynes · UPIAug. 14 (UPI) -- The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to continue construction on the White House's planned $400 million ballroom.
The request came a week after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the construction was unlawful and blocked further work on it. The court said Congress has authority over development funding for the White House and it had not approved the project.
The appellate court gave the administration until Aug. 21 to halt construction to give them time to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.
U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed an emergency appeal with the high court Thursday, saying that halting work on the controversial project threatens national security. The Trump administration has long said that the new ballroom would provide security to those at the White House.
"This case involves an extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex, including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White House, which is vitally required by national security," the filing said.
"The entire ballroom structure is designed to shield the military installation beneath it."
The appeals court decision on Aug. 7, though, allowed work on the underground security structure to continue at the ballroom site.
Sauer's filing argued it was too late to stop work on the project, which he said is 65% complete. The filing asked the Supreme Court to allow work to continue while the court case is litigated.
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