A federal lawsuit has been filed to halt a UFC fight event scheduled to take place on the White House South Lawn, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations. The event is also part of the nation’s 250th anniversary festivities. The lawsuit, filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents, argues that the Trump administration’s authorization of the June 14 event is unlawful.

Legal and Regulatory Concerns

The plaintiffs contend that the approval of the event violates National Park Service regulations, which prohibit sporting events on federal parklands. Additionally, they argue that Congress did not consent to the construction of a towering arch overlooking the event space, and no environmental review was conducted prior to the construction. Brendan Ballou, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, described the event as a “private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain.”

The White House responded to the lawsuit, labeling it as an “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” attempt to prevent the event. They compared it to other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.

Event Preparations

Preparations for the event are already underway, with crews erecting an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn. President Trump has stated that the finished project will feature a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House. Additional large screens will be set up in a nearby park at the Ellipse to broadcast the fights, and the UFC plans to issue up to 85,000 free tickets to accommodate spectators at both locations.

The UFC has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit. The octagon and surrounding structures are part of a broader building initiative led by the Trump administration at the White House.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.