WASHINGTON, D.C. — A major legal challenge has been filed against President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to construct a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the White House grounds, a project that has already involved the demolition of the East Wing annex. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a prominent nonprofit organization, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday, seeking an immediate temporary restraining order to stop all construction activity.
The suit argues that the Trump administration violated several federal laws, including the National Capital Planning Act of 1952 and the National Historic Preservation Act, by failing to submit the project plans for required design reviews, environmental assessments, and public comment before proceeding with the demolition and construction. The National Trust contends that the administration has unlawfully bypassed crucial oversight by bodies such as the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission of Fine Arts.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever—not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, not anyone else,” the complaint states. The organization insists that the construction of a ballroom, which Trump has said will accommodate nearly 1,000 people and is estimated to cost up to $300 million, is an irreversible change to a protected national landmark that requires full transparency and authorization.
The controversy surrounding the project escalated in October, when the administration demolished the East Wing in a rush to clear the site for the new structure, despite earlier assurances from the President that the new ballroom would not interfere with the existing White House building. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the demolition, asserting that the NCPC lacks jurisdiction over demolition projects and that only “vertical construction” requires the commission’s review. However, the National Trust has rejected this distinction, arguing that demolishing a historic part of the complex to make way for an addition of this magnitude is a single, integrated project that demands comprehensive review.
Concerns among preservationists and critics have grown over the scale and design of the proposed ballroom, which, at nearly double the size of the 55,000-square-foot White House mansion, is feared to “overwhelm” the iconic structure. Renderings have suggested a design reminiscent of the gilded ballroom at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, further fueling criticism of the project’s aesthetics and its appropriateness for the nation’s executive residence.
Funding for the massive undertaking has also drawn scrutiny. President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the ballroom will be paid for entirely by private donations from “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies,” and his own funds, ensuring no taxpayer money is used. However, the White House has yet to release a comprehensive list of donors or a breakdown of the nearly $300 million in pledged funds. The donations are reportedly being coordinated through a nonprofit charitable organization, the Trust for the National Mall, which has led ethics experts to question whether the fundraising activities violate the Antideficiency Act or the Constitution’s Emoluments Clauses, given that corporate and wealthy donors may be seeking access or favor with the administration.
One notable source of funding is a $22 million payment from YouTube, a Google subsidiary, as part of a settlement resolving a 2021 lawsuit Trump filed against the platform for suspending his account after the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. This settlement money is slated for the ballroom fund.
The lawsuit seeks to immediately freeze construction, providing the court time to review claims that the administration violated federal law by circumventing the required preservation and planning reviews. The legal challenge represents the first major test of the limits of presidential power concerning modifications to the White House grounds.
Sources
- CBS News: Historic preservation group sues Trump over White House ballroom project
- The Washington Post: National Trust sues to stop Trump’s ballroom construction
- Houston Chronicle/AP: Trump sued by preservationists seeking architecture review over White House ballroom project
- Courthouse News Service: White House East Wing demolition sparks lawsuit to freeze ballroom construction
- FactCheck.org: Trump’s White House Ballroom Sparks Questions About Funding and Ethics
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