The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a response with the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, urging the justices to reject a request from the Trump administration to resume above-ground construction of a White House ballroom. The legal filing argues that the administration lacks the necessary congressional authorization to proceed with the 90,000-square-foot project.
The dispute follows a 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which ordered that above-ground work on the ballroom must stop by Friday, August 21. While the appeals court permitted the continuation of an underground military facility at the site, it rejected the president's argument that the ballroom could proceed without specific congressional approval because it is being funded by private donations.
The Department of Justice, representing the administration, has asked the Supreme Court to intervene on its emergency docket to prevent the work stoppage. Government lawyers stated that the project is currently 65% complete. They argued that the facility is a national security necessity, citing recent threats and detailing plans for drone ports, military-grade ventilation, and missile-resistant steel columns intended to protect the president.
President Trump has defended the project, stating on Monday that it is being built under budget and ahead of schedule. He characterized opposition to the ballroom as "disloyal" to the country and stated that the military requested the addition of deep underground facilities. In social media posts, the president also accused the preservationist group of revealing military secrets by filing the lawsuit that brought the project's security features into public court records.
The scale of the project is significant, involving a 90,000-square-foot structure on the former site of the White House East Wing. For the public, the outcome determines whether the historic landscape of the White House can be altered by a project that includes military-grade fortifications and missile-resistant materials. The Justice Department has anchored its defense on the physical safety of the president, suggesting that the day-to-day security environment at the White House requires these upgrades to defend against drone threats and assassination attempts.
The ruling will also impact the federal budget process and the use of private funds for government buildings. While the underground military facility is not currently blocked, the total cost and the degree to which private donations can bypass typical congressional oversight remain central points of contention. The Supreme Court could issue a ruling on the emergency stay as early as this week. The National Trust has indicated it would not oppose an expedited schedule for a full hearing this fall, which would lead to a final decision by the summer of 2027.