Regierung: Trump braucht für Ballsaal Zustimmung des Parlaments
Ein US-Gericht stoppt vorerst Trumps geplanten Ballsaal am Weißen Haus. Für den Umbau müsse der Präsident die Zustimmung des Kongresses einholen.
A US appeals court has halted construction work on President Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom and ruled that the president must obtain approval from Congress for the project, granting a victory to heritage advocates who sued against its construction. The court stated, "Whether a massive ballroom should be built or not is a matter to be decided by Congress and not something the executive branch may rule unilaterally."
The ruling, however, was set aside for two weeks to allow the government to seek appeal to the Supreme Court. The appeals court upheld the decision of District Judge Richard Leon, who had ordered all construction halted below ground level, while permitting underground work for a bunker and other facilities. Trump had planned to demolish the East Wing of the White House to build the ballroom, initially suggesting he would fund it from his own pocket with the help of friendly donors.
The cost of the 8,400 square meter hall, meant to accommodate nearly 1,000 people, has since risen significantly. Republican senators attempted to provide $1 billion (approximately €866 million) for security measures and military modernization of the White House as part of the project. Government lawyers argued that the largest renovation of the White House in over 70 years was for the president's, his family's, and his employees' protection from drone, ballistic missile, and biological threats.
Heritage advocates countered that the White House did not need a ballroom and there was no security emergency.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
