Trump's $400 million ballroom project gets temporary approval from federal appeals court
The construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom was temporarily allowed by a federal appeals court on Saturday, according to reports.
The 2-1 decision was made by a three-judge panel for the U.S. circuit court in Washington, D.C., NBC News reported. It allows construction to move ahead as the Trump administration has challenged a lower court order stating that the estimated $400 million, large-scale project spans beyond Trump's authority.
Construction can now continue through April 17 as the court examines the issue further. A lower court ordered construction to stop on April 14.
Trump demolished the White House's historic East Wing to begin building the ballroom, a project that sparked significant controversy among preservationists and historians concerned about the loss of a structurally and culturally important part of the building. The ballroom project has faced multiple legal challenges and public opposition, with critics arguing that the removal of the East Wing damages the architectural integrity and historical significance of the presidential residence.
Trump and his attorneys have argued that the ballroom, which is located above a bunker, is "a vital project for the safety and security of the White House and the President, his family, and his staff."