Where Trump's ballroom stands — and what roadblocks remain
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President Donald Trump looks toward White House renovations in the East Room on Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Trump and his congressional allies are adamant that building his sprawling ballroom — which would sit atop a massive subterranean complex — is a national security need after an alleged gunman derailed the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
The big picture: The $400 million project is one part of Trump's bid to reshape Washington in his image, which includes his proposed triumphal arch and putting his name on the Kennedy Center.
- Trump plowed forward with the project — demolishing the East Wing in the process— without review by Congress, irking a federal judge.
- However, an appeals court is allowing construction to move forward for now.
Here's where the ballroom debate stands.
In the courts
The latest: The Justice Department on Monday asked U.S. District Judge Richard Leon to lift his hold on the ballroom construction in a filing that reads like one of Trump's Truth Social posts.
- The motion accused the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the project, of being "very bad for our Country" and suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
- "This Project will ensure that events like the horrific attack on Saturday night do not happen again," the DOJ argued.
- However, analysts note the president is a guest at the WHCA dinner, not the host, and the event welcomes more people than Trump's ballroom is set to hold.
The other side: "We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law," Carol Quillen, the trust's CEO, said in a Monday response.
It's unlikely the motion will soothe Leon, a George W. Bush nominee who has already chastised the administration for its "incredible, if not disingenuous" interpretation of his initial order temporarily halting construction.
- He warned that "national security is not a blank check to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity."
What's next: A federal appeals court will hear arguments over Leon's injunction June 5.
On the Hill
Republican lawmakers have pushed the ballroom event space since the weekend shooting, but how they'll get Trump his ballroom remains murky.
- Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) wrote in a Sunday post that he would seek unanimous consent for legislation approving the ballroom project, though Democrats are likely to deny that.
- Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Monday he'd bring a bill to the floor allowing the project to move forward "without new taxpayer costs." Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) also said she was drafting legislation.
Meanwhile, Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Katie Britt (Ala.) and Eric Schmitt (Mo.) are pushing legislation to fund the ballroom. Graham said private donations, which Trump had touted, should be used for fine "china and stuff."
- But there are hurdles to reaching an agreement: Some Republicans say taxpayer funds should not be used to foot the bill, NBC reported.
Go deeper: East Wing expansion plans revealed as Trump team pushes for fast-track approval
