A federal judge in Washington D.C. has opted not to immediately halt the controversial demolition of the White House's East Wing, clearing the way for President Donald Trump's planned ballroom project to proceed, at least for now. The decision came after lawyers for the Trump administration argued that stopping the work could pose unspecified national security risks.
Legal Battle Over Historic Preservation
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed last week by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a congressionally chartered non-profit. The Trust accused the president and other government entities of sidestepping legally required review processes before tearing down the East Wing. They asked Judge Richard J. Leon for an immediate injunction to stop construction so proper assessments could be conducted.
Judge Leon, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, did not grant the injunction. Instead, he gave the Trump administration until the end of the year to submit the ballroom plans to the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. This allows underground construction work to continue.
National Security and a 'Visual Imbalance'
In court, Justice Department attorney Adam Gustafson contended that 'there is nothing left for this court to do' as the East Wing plot was already cleared. The administration's lawyers asserted the White House is a special case, exempt from certain federal construction laws. They also argued that months of critical underground work to replace security infrastructure must proceed, warning the president could be left vulnerable if halted.
This work relates to the presidential bunker beneath the East Wing, which dates to the World War II era. While Gustafson did not elaborate publicly on the security threat, Trump officials offered to brief Judge Leon privately.
Court documents revealed the project underwent an expedited environmental review in August by the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS found the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom would 'dominate the eastern portion of the site, creating a visual imbalance with the more modestly scaled West Wing and Executive Mansion.' Despite this, the NPS concluded the build would have 'no significant impact' and required no further study.
Revelations and a Presidential 'Win'
The lawsuit has unveiled key project timelines and details:
- The decision to demolish the East Wing was confirmed by August 2025.
- President Trump announced the plan to donors on October 15, days before demolition began.
- Wrecking crews started on October 20.
- Above-ground construction is slated for April 2026, with completion by summer 2028.
- Trump stated the ballroom could cost $400 million, funded by private donors.
The current East Wing was built in 1942 under Franklin D. Roosevelt, with a second floor added for First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's offices. Its demolition removes a significant piece of modern White House history.
Following the court hearing, President Trump declared a victory at a Hanukkah reception. 'We won the case. They asked for a restraining order to stop us from building a magnificent ballroom,' he said, thanking Judge Leon for his 'courage.' The legal argument, however, continues, with the Trust's attorney, Ted Heuer, stressing the case is about adhering to legal precedent, not the need for a ballroom itself.
