WASHINGTON – The Trump administration argued Monday in a court filing that construction of a new White House ballroom must proceed, citing national security concerns.
The filing responds to a lawsuit filed last Friday by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sought to halt the project until it undergoes independent design reviews, environmental assessments, public comment, and congressional approval.
Included in the filing was a declaration from the deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, who said additional work at the former East Wing site is necessary to meet the agency’s “safety and security requirements.” The administration offered to provide the judge with classified details in a private, in-person briefing without the plaintiffs present.
The filing revealed that while demolition and preparatory work are ongoing, final plans for the ballroom have not been completed. John Stanwich, the National Park Service liaison to the White House, stated that below-ground work is continuing and foundation construction is scheduled to begin in January, with above-ground work not expected before April 2026.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has argued that the project should be paused until proper reviews and approvals are completed. The nonprofit requested the court block construction of the estimated $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition, which involves the East Wing, which was demolished in October.
The administration countered that claims about the demolition are “moot” because they cannot be undone, and that claims regarding future construction are “unripe” since plans are not finalized. It also argued that the plaintiffs cannot show “irreparable harm,” noting that above-ground work is not anticipated until April and that required reviews by the National Capital Planning Commission and Commission of Fine Arts are imminent.
The court filing stated, “Even if Plaintiff could overcome the threshold barriers of mootness, ripeness, and lack of standing, Plaintiff would fail to meet each of the stringent requirements necessary to obtain such extraordinary preliminary relief.”
Trump’s ballroom project has drawn criticism from preservationists, architects, and political opponents, but the lawsuit represents the most direct legal challenge to the addition, which would be nearly twice the size of the White House prior to the East Wing demolition. A hearing on the case is scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington.