U.S. Supreme Court enters White House ballroom construction fight

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed construction on President Donald Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project to continue for now, pending a fuller decision from the high court. The temporary order came just hours before lower-court rulings would have halted aboveground work on the project. Chief Justice John Roberts signed the brief order, as he presides over appeals of cases filed in the capital.

The case is being heard as Trump asserts unprecedented presidential power and seeks to shape the capital in his own image.

The Trump administration argues that the president has total authority to renovate federal buildings, including the White House, and that the ballroom project must be completed for national security reasons. The administration claims 65% of the project, which is set to be 90,000 square feet, has already been completed using private donations, including from Trump himself.

However, the National Trust for Historic Preservation opposes the project, arguing that the president lacks unilateral authority to undertake the work. The preservation group claims the White House is trying to "outrun the courts" by accelerating construction. Lawyers for the group argue that Congress, not the executive branch, should decide the fate of the project.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon initially ordered a stop to aboveground construction in April, citing the lack of congressional approval. The order was later upheld by an appeals court panel. Two appeals-court judges appointed by Democratic presidents found the project to be a Congress decision, while a third judge, appointed by Trump, ruled that the preservationist group had no legal standing to sue.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer countered that halting the work was "extraordinary and unlawful," asserting that the completion of the project is "vitally required by national security."