An American historical preservation group has taken legal action to try to stop the construction of the new ballroom planned by Donald Trump for the White House, a project valued at around 300 million dollars (around 255 million euros).
The process was presented on Friday, December 12, by the group National Trust for Historic Preservation in federal court in Washington. This organization calls for the immediate suspension of the works, claiming that the project is progressing without the environmental assessments, technical opinions and legal authorizations required by law. A federal judge, Richard Leon, has scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday, December 16, where he will consider the request for an injunction to stop construction.
At issue is a ballroom with approximately 8,400 square meters, almost twice the size of the original White House, built on the site of the East Wing, which has since been demolished. The works are taking place at a fast pace, including night work.
In the lawsuit filed, the preservation group argues that no president has the authority to demolish parts of the White House or build new structures on public property without any scrutiny. “No president is legally allowed to do this without review. Not Donald Trump, not Joe Biden, not anyone else,” reads the document, cited by Reuters.
The organization also accuses the White House of having ignored the obligation to consult certain entities, as well as of not having carried out any public consultation. “Listening to Americans shows respect and helps build a lasting legacy,” said Carol Quillen, president of the organization.
The ballroom is one of several profound changes that Trump has introduced since returning to the White House in January. Among them are the installation of golden decorations in the Oval Office and the paving of the Rose Garden, transformed into a patio inspired by his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
In reaction to the court case, White House spokesman David Ingle assured that the president has “full legal authority to modernize, renovate and beautify the White House”highlighting that other presidents also made significant changes to the building. However, he did not clarify whether Trump intends to submit the project to Congress for approval.
The last major example of comparable remodeling in the White House dates back to the era of Harry Truman (1945-1953), who obtained express authorization from Congress and created a bipartisan commission to oversee the work.