Trump asks Supreme Court to allow ballroom construction

The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow construction of the $400 million United States — White House ballroom to continue while it appeals a lower court ruling that halted the project. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on August 7 that the construction was unlawful because Congress had not approved it, and ordered a halt to aboveground work. The administration, through Solicitor General D. John Sauer, filed an emergency appeal on August 14, arguing that halting construction threatens national security and that the project is 65% complete. Chief Justice John Roberts set a deadline for the plaintiffs' response. The case tests presidential authority over United States — White House renovations, with the administration asserting the president has unimpeded authority, while the appeals court majority held that Congress must decide on such a project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop the construction, and the lower court had previously allowed underground security work to continue.