The construction of President Trump‘s controversial White House ballroom and bunker complex, replacing the demolished East Wing, has pressed forward since December, when a federal lawsuit first sought to halt it. Courts have broadly allowed the project to continue, despite one judge’s finding that it required congressional approval and was unlawful from the start. Now, an appeals court is on the verge of deciding whether to uphold that ruling, but at every turn, the president has managed to keep building.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop the 90,000-square-foot ballroom after the East Wing was demolished in December. Judge Richard J. Leon of the Federal District Court in Washington, appointed by George W. Bush, expressed concern about the project’s speed but allowed the White House time to seek approval from two review panels. In February, the Commission of Fine Arts—whose members Trump had previously fired and replaced with allies—expedited a vote and approved it. The second panel followed suit two months later. The National Trust returned to court, arguing the project’s use of private funding and lack of congressional input was unlawful. Judge Leon again declined to intervene, urging the organization to refine what he called a “ragtag group of theories” into a more focused case about presidential power.
On March 31, Judge Leon reached a definitive conclusion: “No statute comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have.” He ordered construction halted but gave the government two weeks. Hours later, the Trump administration appealed. Trump then described the ballroom as a superstructure atop a new underground bunker. In April, the appeals court sent the case back to Judge Leon to clarify whether the military complex beneath was subject to his order, allowing construction to continue. Judge Leon limited his order to aboveground work, and the appeals court again permitted construction to proceed until after arguments in June.
During those arguments, Judge Patricia A. Millett, an Obama appointee, asked whether the administration had adopted a “move fast and break things” approach, acting too quickly to be constrained. The administration offered an expansive interpretation of federal laws, arguing the president has authority through the National Park Service. The panel has not yet ruled, but even if it finds the ballroom unlawful, the administration could appeal to the Supreme Court, providing another avenue for continued construction.
Meanwhile, the project has drawn public ridicule. Seth Meyers, host of Late Night, mocked Trump’s rambling remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, noting the president’s obsession with the ballroom’s details while ignoring policy. “Donald Trump doesn’t know anything about healthcare, housing, infrastructure, or foreign policy, but he knows every f—–g detail about this goddamn ballroom,” Meyers said. Trump now pitches the project as a “drone port, highly protected ballroom” with underground facilities. A Washington Post/Ipsos poll found 65 percent of Americans view the project negatively, with many citing vanity or ego.