Construction of U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project will be allowed to continue after an appeals court granted an administrative stay, temporarily blocking a lower court order that had halted parts of the work.
The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia means both underground and above-ground construction can proceed pending a further hearing on 5 June..
The decision follows a ruling by District Judge Richard Leon, who had ordered a partial halt to construction, arguing that the project may have required congressional approval.
Leon also questioned the administration’s argument that the development was justified on national security grounds, warning it could be used to bypass legal requirements..
“National security is not a blank cheque to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity,” he wrote.
The project has been challenged by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues that construction began without proper review by the National Capital Planning Commission and without congressional authorisation.
The Justice Department appealed the ruling, warning that a halt could “imperil the president and national security” and leave a large excavation site beside the Executive Residence.
The White House has defended the project, arguing it is essential for hosting large diplomatic and security-related events.
Trump said the ballroom was “needed now” and described it as part of a broader secure complex.
“It’s all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit,” he said on Truth Social, adding that it would include bomb shelters and medical facilities.
He also criticised the court decision, saying judges should not be able to block the project.
The East Wing of the White House, originally built in 1902, was demolished in October to make way for the new ballroom, which is planned to accommodate up to 1,350 guests.
The White House has said the project will cost around $400 million and is being fully funded by private donors.
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The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaia Kallas says the bloc will tighten enforcement of sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine. EU foreign ministers were meeting in Ireland following renewed Russian strikes on cities across Ukraine.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1st September, covering the latest developments.
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The U.S. Justice Department has warned states they could lose billions of dollars in welfare funding if they fail to report immigrants known to state agencies who are in the country illegally.
The Pentagon has introduced mandatory testosterone screening for U.S. military personnel aged 30 and over, with the new policy expected to take effect immediately.
Thousands of residents of Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the government’s handling of a migration crisis that followed a deadly border surge in July.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a one-year ban on the use of artificial intelligence tools by most students in the city’s public elementary and middle schools, as officials seek to limit the technology’s impact on learning and classroom relationships.
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