Government Argues Court Cannot Halt White House Ballroom Construction Due to Security Concerns
The federal government is arguing in court that the construction of a new ballroom at the White House cannot be stopped by judicial intervention due to its ongoing status and the sensitive security concerns it addresses. Attorney Yaakov Roth, representing the government, stated that only Congress has the authority to halt the $400 million project. This argument was presented during a hearing with U.S. Appeals Court Judge Patricia Millett. The project, which includes a 90,000-square-foot ballroom, was ordered to stop aboveground by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, although underground work on a bunker and other security facilities was allowed to continue. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has challenged the project, arguing that Congress should have a say in such developments. The hearing focused on the legal standing to challenge government actions and whether national security concerns override such challenges. 
