US court extends deadline for Trump’s White House ballroom construction

The United States appeals court has extended the deadline for halting construction on the White House ballroom until April 17. This decision allows President Donald Trump's administration to seek Supreme Court review of a lower court’s order that had paused the project. The three-judge panel for the District of Columbia noted that the extension would provide time for the administration to appeal Judge Richard Leon's ruling, which cited the need for congressional authorization for such a transformative project.

Judge Leon's March 31 order paused construction, but included exceptions for work deemed necessary for the safety and security of the White House. The appeals court's majority opinion, led by Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia, questioned the Trump administration's arguments regarding national security risks associated with the construction delay. They stated, "Defendants have not, on this record, explained how, if at all, the injunction interferes with their existing plans for safety and security."

The majority also pointed out that the administration had previously indicated that the ballroom construction was a lengthy project, estimating completion in almost three years. This raises doubts about the urgency of the administration's claims regarding national security risks. The court remanded the issue back to the lower court for further clarification on unresolved factual questions and the scope of the national-security exception.

In dissent, Judge Neomi Rao argued that the majority's request for further fact-finding could impede the administration's progress, emphasizing that halting construction could cause "irreparable injury". The ballroom project has been contentious, particularly following the demolition of the East Wing, which critics argue was done without adequate notice or congressional approval. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a lawsuit claiming that Trump exceeded his authority in initiating this significant construction without legislative consent.