Federal court allows construction of White House ballroom days after Trump admin urged permission
WASHINGTON, DC: A court of appeals has allowed the White House administration to continue the construction of the ballroom temporarily, days after the WH admin filed a petition citing that the open site poses a threat to those who live and work in the White House.
The verdict came as a sign of relief for White House after the court had halted the construction late last month, stating that it requires Congress’s approval. In a petition filed on Thursday, April 9, with the US Circuit Court of Appeals for Washington, DC, the White House urged the court to let the construction of President Donald Trump's $400 million ballroom to continue.
Court allows ballroom construction by a 2-1 verdict
A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the initial interference should be put on pause temporarily, till April 17, allowing the White House to continue the construction.
The court panel was addressing the White House’s April 9 appeal that argued that leaving the ballroom unfinished would “imperil” Trump and others who live and work in the White House.
The Trump admin in its appeal, stated that the project as a whole is "necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House and its grounds, including the ballroom construction site, and provide for the personal safety of the President and his staff.”
Court remands ‘these cases’ to district court
“We cannot fairly determine, on this hurried record, whether and to what extent the district court’s ‘necessary for safety and security’ exception addresses Defendants’ claims of irreparable harm, insofar as it may accommodate the Defendants’ asserted safety and security need for the ballroom itself or other temporary measures to secure the safety and security of the White House, the President, staff, and visitors while this appeal proceeds,” the panel wrote in its ruling.
“We thus remand these cases to the district court with instructions to promptly address the pending motion to clarify how the injunction and its exception will ensure safety and security pending litigation,” the ruling reads.
Judge Neomi Rao objected to the panel’s ruling; the construction was allowed by a 2-1 verdict.
White House highlights security facilities in proposed ballroom
The administration, in another filing, described the ballroom as “a vital project for the safety and security of the White House and the president, his family, and his staff.”
The filing also highlighted the safety measures that have been installed or are being installed in the area where the ballroom is to be erected.
“As an example, the protective missile-resistant steel columns, beams, drone-proof roofing materials, and bullet, ballistic, and blast-proof glass are largely made, being used, and/or on their way to the project,” the filing said.
