Halting $400m White House ballroom project is national security risk, Trump officials say | Donald Trump
Donald Trump’s administration is arguing that a judge’s order to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House creates a security risk for the US president as his team asks a federal appeals court to stay the decision.
In a motion filed Friday, attorneys for the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) say the federal judge’s order halting construction of the new facility “threatens serious harm to the national security of the White House, the President and his family, and the President’s staff.”
“Time is running out!” » write the lawyers, citing the materials that will be installed to constitute a “heavily fortified” facility. The ballroom construction also includes bomb shelters, military installations and a medical center, according to the filing. The ballroom is part of Trump’s plans to quickly remake Washington.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington on Tuesday ordered a temporary suspension of the construction project that includes the demolition of the East Wing of the White House. He concluded that unless Congress approves the project, the preservationist group suing to stop it will likely prevail on the merits of its arguments, because “no law comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have.”
The judge suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that the Trump administration would appeal his decision.
Leon’s ruling and appeal came the same week that a key agency responsible for approving construction on federal property in the Washington area gave final approval to the project.
In his decision, Leon – who was appointed to his position by Republican President George W. Bush – suspended implementation of his order, acknowledging that “stopping an ongoing construction project could raise logistical issues.”
Leon also addressed national security in his decision. He said he had reviewed information the government had submitted to him privately and concluded that halting construction would not endanger national security. It exempted from the scope of the injunction all construction work necessary for the safety and security of the White House.
Trump criticized the move, but also noted that it would allow work to continue on underground bunkers and other security measures around the White House grounds. But these will be paid for by taxpayers. Trump has pledged to cover, along with private donors, the costs of building the ballroom.
But the NPS argues in its motion that the president has “full authority to renovate the White House” and that the current state of the building, which is an open construction site, makes it more difficult to protect the White House.
“Canvas tents, which are required without a ballroom, are significantly more vulnerable to missiles, drones, and other threats than a hardened national security facility,” the NPS motion states.
The Trump administration is asking the appeals court to rule on its request by Friday. He also requested that the 14-day stay of Leon’s order be extended for two more weeks so the case could go to the U.S. Supreme Court.
