Judge to decide fate of White House ballroom construction next month

A federal judge will decide the fate of the "beautiful and spectacular" White House ballroom envisioned by President Donald Trump next month as he considers a lawsuit by a preservationist group aimed at halting the construction of the $400 million project.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22 held a hearing on a December lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation against Trump and several federal agencies. He did not issue an opinion from the bench but said it would come next month.

The group argues the project did not consult with regulatory bodies, has not completed an adequate environmental assessment or sought congressional authorization.

Following the hearing, National Trust President and CEO Carol Quillen said the group had "fiercely defended the interests of the American people and advocated compliance with the law."

"We will continue to advocate for the administration to follow the law and to give the public a chance to be heard before the continuation of construction activity makes the outcome irreversible," she said in a statement.

After the White House announced the project in July, the sudden and complete demolition of the East Wing in October to make way for the ballroom took many by surprise, sparking concern from critics, preservationists and a few former residents, including former first ladies Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton.

At 90,000 square feet of new construction, Trump's project "will overwhelm the White House itself," which is 55,000 square feet, said Quillen, adding: "(The addition) may also permanently disrupt the carefully balanced classical design of the White House with its two smaller, and lower, East and West Wings."

The Trump administration is asking the court to deny a preliminary injunction, which would halt construction while litigation continues.

Early site excavation and other construction work for the 90,000-square foot ballroom is already underway, which Trump wants to be ready by January 2029.

Demolition of the East Wing was not protected under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which requires reviews of projects that affect most historic buildings, but explicitly exempts the White House, Supreme Court building and U.S. Capitol.

The White House has argued the National Capital Planning Commission ‒ the central planning agency of the federal government since 1952 ‒ does not have jurisdiction over the demolition of federal buildings, only the construction of them.

Matthew Quinn, the deputy director of United States Secret Service, in a court filing supporting the Trump administration, said unless the remaining work is completed, the Secret Service’s ability to protect the president, first family and the White House complex is "hampered."

Earlier this month, the National Capital Planning Commission held its first hearing on the ballroom plans, which was submitted by the White House in December.

On March 5, NCPC members are expected to vote on the project. An online portal allowing the public to register to speak will open on Feb. 12, according to recently filed court documents. USA TODAY was the first to report on the filing.

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal