This is the latest installment in a saga very dear to Donald Trump. In the United States, a federal appeals court has authorized the temporary continuation of renovations to the White House ballroom, desired by Donald Trump. However, the court has requested clarification on national security issues.
In October, the Republican President had bulldozed an entire wing of the White House to build a ballroom that could accommodate up to 1,000 people for various events and dinners in honor of foreign dignitaries. But in December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) took legal action, accusing the Trump administration of not complying with legal requirements for public inquiry, or obtaining Congressional approval for the project. The budget for the project, funded by private donations, doubled from $200 million to $400 million.
Construction allowed to continue until April 17
Last month, Federal Judge Richard Leon ordered a halt to the construction, dealing a significant blow to one of the most ambitious projects undertaken at the White House in over a century.
In an order issued on Saturday, a panel of three judges from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decided, by a vote of two to one, to allow the administration to continue the construction until April 17 and “seek a review from the Supreme Court.” The order also asks Judge Richard Leon to clarify points raised in previous proceedings regarding the safety and security of the project.
Becoming a particularly cherished topic for Donald Trump, he frequently mentions the progress of the construction on the east wing of the presidential residence during public appearances unrelated to the subject.
