Trump Administration Defends White House Ballroom Project in Court

The Trump administration has argued in a federal court filing that the construction of a new ballroom at the White House must proceed for undisclosed national security reasons. The response comes after the National Trust for Historic Preservation sought to halt the project, claiming it requires further review and public input before moving forward.

In the 36-page filing, the administration contends that the conservationist group lacks legal standing to challenge the project. According to the filing, a declaration from Matthew C. Quinn, deputy director of the US Secret Service, emphasized the need for continued work at the site of the former East Wing to satisfy safety and security requirements. Specific national security concerns were not disclosed, though the administration has offered to share classified information privately with the presiding judge.

The East Wing, which has been demolished, previously housed an emergency operations bunker for the president. Quinn warned that any interruption in construction would “consequently hamper” the Secret Service’s ability to fulfill its protective mission. A hearing regarding the case is scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington.

The administration’s response sheds light on the ballroom project, revealing how it was swiftly approved. The plans for the ballroom remain unfinished, despite ongoing demolition activities and preparations at the site. According to John Stanwich, the National Park Service’s liaison to the White House, foundational work is expected to begin in January 2024, while above-ground construction is not anticipated to commence until April 2026, at the earliest.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation did not respond to requests for comment regarding the ongoing legal proceedings. The group filed a lawsuit last week, asserting that no president is legally permitted to demolish parts of the White House without appropriate review. The lawsuit emphasizes that no president, including Donald Trump or Joe Biden, has the authority to construct a ballroom on public property without allowing public input.

Trump initiated the demolition of the East Wing in October 2023 as part of a plan to build a $300 million, 90,000 square foot ballroom designed to accommodate approximately 1,000 guests before his term concludes in January 2029. He has argued that previous presidents have expressed a desire for a larger event space than what the current White House offers, and that the new ballroom would eliminate the need for temporary pavilions to host visiting dignitaries.

The National Trust contends that the proposed plans should have been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts, and Congress prior to any construction actions. The trust had alerted these entities, along with the National Park Service, in a letter dated October 21, 2023, urging a halt to the project and calling for compliance with federal law. The lack of response from the administration has added to the concerns raised by the conservationist group.