Trump administration seeks Supreme Court stay to continue White House ballroom construction

The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow construction of a controversial White House ballroom project to continue, framing the work as a critical national security necessity. The request comes after a federal appeals court ruled that aboveground construction must halt by August 21, 2026, unless Congress authorizes the project. The legal battle centers on whether the president has the authority to proceed with the major alteration without legislative approval.

The project, initially presented as a grand ballroom to host state events, has evolved in the administration's description into an integrated military complex. The East Wing of the White House was demolished last year to make way for the 90,000-square-foot facility, which the administration says includes an underground bunker, a hermetically sealed ballroom, and a rooftop military installation. The total cost has risen from an initial estimate of $200 million to $400 million.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit challenging the project, arguing the administration lacked the necessary congressional authorization. A federal district judge, Richard Leon, issued an order...