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Supreme Court allows Trump to build $400m White House ballroom
BBC News··1 Sept
The US Supreme Court voted 5-4 on Monday to let Donald Trump continue building a $400 million ballroom at the White House. Lower court orders halting above-ground construction were blocked. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented with three liberal justices. Roberts wrote the project is likely unlawful without congressional approval. The National Trust sued over East Wing demolition.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Construction of the 90,000 sq ft ballroom can continue while lawsuits proceed in lower courts.
- Trump demolished the East Wing last autumn to begin the project funded by private donations.
- The White House said the ballroom will be substantially finished by November 2028.
What's Happening
- The Supreme Court voted 5-4 on August 31 to lift lower court halts on above-ground work.
- Lower courts had found the project lacked congressional approval.
- Chief Justice Roberts dissented, writing construction is likely unlawful without Congress.
White House renovation law
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued over unilateral White House renovation.
- The project includes a military bunker alongside the ballroom.
- Trump has also proposed renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
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