Construction of a new White House ballroom and presidential bunker remains underway after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted an administrative stay, halting a previous order that blocked most above-ground construction. The court scheduled the next hearing for June 5, ensuring ongoing work until then. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had temporarily stopped the ballroom's construction in March, citing national security concerns, though he allowed underground bunker work to proceed. The Justice Department appealed Leon's ruling, asserting that halting the project could jeopardize national security.
President Trump has strongly defended the project, describing it as vital for national security and criticizing the judicial decision as politically motivated. He has previously announced plans for a privately funded White House ballroom, demolishing the East Wing in October and facing opposition from the National Trust for Historical Preservation, which sued to block the new East Wing. The ongoing legal dispute highlights tensions over presidential security enhancements and historical preservation efforts.