Donald Trump's administration has argued that a judge's order to halt construction of a $400m White House ballroom creates a security risk for the US president, as it asks a federal appeals court to pause the ruling. In a motion filed on Friday, US National Park Service (NPS) lawyers said the order is 'threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the president and his family, and the president's staff'.
The ballroom construction includes bomb shelters, military installations and a medical facility, according to the filing. 'Time is of the essence!' the lawyers wrote, citing materials that will be installed to make a 'heavily fortified' facility. The project is part of Trump's plans to quickly remake Washington.
US district judge Richard Leon in Washington on Tuesday ordered a temporary pause of the construction, which has included demolishing the White House's east wing. He concluded that unless Congress approves the project, the preservationist group suing to stop it is likely to succeed on its arguments because 'no statute comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have'. The judge suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that Trump's administration would appeal.
Leon, nominated by Republican president George W Bush, also addressed national security in his ruling. He said he reviewed information privately submitted by the government and concluded that halting construction would not jeopardise national security. He exempted any work necessary for the safety and security of the White House from the injunction.
Trump lashed out at the ruling but noted it would allow work on underground bunkers and other security measures to continue, paid for by taxpayers. Trump has pledged that he and private donors will cover the ballroom construction costs. However, the NPS argues that the president has 'complete authority to renovate the White House' and that the current open construction site makes it harder to protect the White House. 'Canvas tents, which are necessary without a ballroom, are significantly more vulnerable to missiles, drones, and other threats than a hardened national security facility,' the NPS motion said.
The Trump administration is asking the appeals court to make a decision on its request by Friday. It also asked that the 14-day suspension of Leon's order be extended by another two weeks so that the case can be taken to the US Supreme Court.
