A federal judge has criticised Donald Trump's demolition of the White House's East Wing and his plan to build a $400m ballroom, indicating he might terminate the project. Judge Richard Leon said during a hearing on Tuesday that he was 'struggling to see this as an alteration', as he considers a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) seeking to halt construction until congressional approval is obtained.
The NTHP argues that Trump lacks legal authority to impose his private whims on the historic building. White House lawyers contend that Trump does not need outside permission, claiming the project is needed for 'national security' and is mostly privately funded. Trump has boasted about the 90,000 sq ft ballroom, which critics say mimics his Mar-a-Lago estate.
In October, Trump fired all six members of the independent US Commission of Fine Arts and replaced them with appointees who approved the plan. The National Capital Planning Commission postponed its vote to April due to public input. At the hearing, NTHP attorney Thaddeus Heuer accused the administration of a 'months-long merry-go-round ride' over responsibility.
Judge Leon, a George W Bush appointee, called the administration's legal arguments a 'brazen interpretation of the law's vocabulary'. He noted that Trump is not the owner of the White House but a steward for the nation. Leon is set to rule on the preservationists' lawsuit by the end of March.
