A divided federal appeals court has ruled that President Trump’s administration must stop construction of the $400 million White House ballroom because Congress has not approved the project. The court stated that the decision to build a massive ballroom is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.
Background
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization, brought the lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the law states that only Congress can authorize the construction of a ballroom at the White House. The Trump administration had requested $1 billion for the ballroom, which Congress refused in May.
President Trump has said he has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from corporations and wealthy people, including himself, to cover the construction costs. However, the court ruled that the president doesn’t have the unilateral authority to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the White House’s East Wing stood before he ordered its demolition last fall.
Reaction
President Trump reacted to the ruling with a lengthy post on social media, quoting from a dissenting opinion issued by Judge Neomi Rao, whom he nominated. He also described the plans for the facility to include bomb shelters, a hospital, and medical facilities, as well as security features.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation said the decision affirmed the American people’s right to voice their opinions about historic places they cherish, including the White House.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
