Federal appeal court for Washington don issue order wey make Trump administration stop construction of di $400m ballroom for White House. Na big blow for di controversial project wey President Donald Trump don dey push since last year.
Di court of appeals for District of Columbia circuit, for split 2-1 decision on Friday, uphold di preliminary injunction wey National Trust for Historic Preservation get. Di ruling na say Trump administration no fit do above-ground construction without Congress approval.
Di judges Joseph Millet and Bradley Garcia, wey join di majority, write say: “Each President na temporary tenant, not owner, of di White House and im Executive Residence.” Dem add say “Whether or not massive ballroom should be constructed na Congress to decide, not matter for Executive self-help.”
But di court no mince word: “This holding has nothing at all to do with whether di proposed ballroom dey desirable, or not, as matter of policy. Di ruling no even mean say di Defendants no fit ultimately construct di ballroom. Wetin e mean na say dem no fit do am during di district court expeditious litigation without securing Congress authorization, as di constitution and laws require.”
Di appeals court put dia ruling on hold for 14 days, to allow Trump administration carry di matter go Supreme Court. Trump, wey don tear down East Wing wey dem build for 1902 last year to make way for ballroom, quick attack di decision for social media. E call am “horrendous” and “politically motivated,” and say “This unjust decision must be overturned by di Supreme Court for im entirety.”
Di case begin when Trump administration tear down East Wing without congressional approval, and National Trust for Historic Preservation sue. Di Trust don dey argue say di White House na “People’s House,” and no president get di right to just rebuild am anyhow. Brent Leggs, President and CEO of di Trust, celebrate di ruling on Friday. E say: “Di White House, a global landmark wey dey symbolize American identity and di ideals of democracy, belong to di American people. Di National Trust and im partners dey proud to defend dis irreplaceable monument on behalf of all Americans.”
Trump don tout di ballroom project as “gift” to American people, funded by private donors, and e say e dey needed to “accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits.” E also claim say e vital for national security. Di project include bomb shelters, hospital, and top secret military facilities, according to Trump. Government lawyers don argue say di security complex go protect White House from drones, ballistic missiles, biohazards, and oda threats.
But di Trust no gree. Dem say having ballroom no be national security emergency, and no basis to disturb di White House. Di court di majority agree say di ballroom project no fit continue above ground until Congress give approval.
Dis na di latest setback for di project wey Trump unveil for July 2025. E go be di most substantial structural change to di presidential residence for more dan 70 years. But legal wahala don dey follow am since October, when di administration demolish East Wing. Earlier, federal judge Richard Leon, wey George W. Bush appoint, don block above-ground construction for April, but allow underground work. Trump don lambast Leon as “Trump Hating” judge.
Di dissenting judge for di panel, Neomi Rao, wey Trump appoint, side with di president. E praise di dissenting opinion wey call di order “blatant abuse of discretion.” Trump highlight dat for im social media statement on Friday.