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By Gabe Whisnant
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A federal judge in Washington sharply questioned the Trump administration on Thursday over whether it has the legal authority to move forward with construction of a $400 million White House ballroom without approval from Congress.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush, raised doubts during a hearing on whether President Donald Trump can proceed with tearing down the historic East Wing and replacing it with a massive new structure on federal land. The hearing stems from a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House via email on Thursday night for comment.
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Lawsuit Challenges Demolition of Historic East Wing
The preservation group sued Trump and several federal agencies in December, arguing the project moved ahead without required congressional authorization, environmental review or proper public oversight. The East Wing, which was demolished as part of the project, was more than 120 years old.
Leon appeared unconvinced by the administration’s argument that the project fits within a long tradition of presidential renovations. He rejected comparisons to smaller projects carried out by past administrations, including the installation of a swimming pool during President Gerald Ford’s tenure. “Come on, be serious,” Leon said at one point.
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Congressional Approval at Center of Legal Dispute
At issue is whether federal law allows major construction on federal parkland in Washington without explicit authorization from Congress. The National Trust argues that such approval is required and that the National Park Service violated environmental law by issuing a limited environmental assessment rather than a full environmental impact statement.
The group also contends that the assessment was released only after demolition had already begun, undermining public review. Leon declined to issue an emergency restraining order last month but allowed the lawsuit to continue.
Administration Defends Project as Public Interest
The White House and Justice Department have urged the court to deny a preliminary injunction that would halt construction while the case plays out. Justice Department lawyer Jacob Roth said the ballroom is needed for official state functions, its design is still evolving, and above-ground construction is not scheduled to begin until April.
Roth argued the project serves the public interest and follows precedent, citing Franklin D. Roosevelt’s construction of the East Wing itself.
In December, Trump selected Shalom Baranes to replace James McCrery II as the chief architect of the planned 90,000-square-foot, gilded ballroom, the White House has now confirmed.
"Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nation’s capital for decades and his experience will be a great asset to the completion of this project," White House spokesperson David Ingle said.
The project is being funded via private donations from individuals, corporations and tech companies, including Google and Amazon—something of which Trump has been proud, saying that the ballroom’s construction cost will not be shouldered by taxpayers.
Planning Review Underway as Judge Weighs Injunction
The National Capital Planning Commission held a public hearing earlier this month—the first public forum on the ballroom project. The White House has submitted applications to both the planning commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.
Leon said he expects to rule in the coming weeks on whether to issue a preliminary injunction, a decision that could temporarily stop the project while the lawsuit proceeds.
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