A nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving U.S. historical landmarks filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump on Friday, seeking to stop construction of a large White House ballroom until the project receives proper federal approvals.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation said in its suit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., that no president is legally allowed to demolish parts of the White House without review, nor to build a ballroom on public property without allowing public input. The lawsuit claims Trump was required to obtain federal reviews and approvals before tearing down the historic East Wing and starting construction on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
The group is asking a judge to declare the project in violation of several laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act, and is requesting a court-ordered halt to the work until federal commissions have reviewed and approved the plans, an environmental review is completed, and Congress has authorized the construction.
In addition to Trump, the lawsuit names the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, General Services Administration, and the heads of these agencies as defendants. White House officials maintain that the president has the legal authority to modernize and renovate the White House, citing precedent set by prior administrations.