Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project to continue while the justices consider an emergency appeal from the Trump administration.
Administrative stay over White House ballroom
Roberts issued an administrative stay pausing a lower-court ruling that would have stopped construction until the project received congressional approval. The lower court’s order had been scheduled to take effect on Friday, August 21.
Roberts, who handles emergency appeals arising from Washington, D.C., signed the stay as the full Supreme Court weighs the Trump administration’s request. Administrative stays are generally used to preserve the status quo while the court considers a more formal application. The one-page order offered no explanation for Roberts’ decision or a timetable for further action.
A spokesperson for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the project, told Newsweek, “We are aware of the administrative stay. To be clear, this is not a final decision on the merits of the government’s stay application and we await further action.”
Donald Trump celebrates the temporary stay
Trump celebrated the order on Truth Social, writing, “We are grateful for the Decision of the United States Supreme Court.”
In another post, Trump called the project a “BALLROOM/MILITARY COMPLEX,” said it was “under budget and ahead of schedule” and repeated his claim that presidents have sought such a facility for 150 years. He has said private donations will fully fund the ballroom.
The Trump administration argues the project is necessary for national security. Court filings say construction is already 65 percent complete, with about 250 workers operating 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
The planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom is being constructed on the former site of the East Wing, which Trump ordered demolished. Trump has said the broader project includes bomb shelters and other security features beneath the ballroom.
Justice Department attorneys also cited recent threats against Trump, including assassination attempts, while arguing that security and military-related facilities included in the project are needed for national security.
Preservation groups fight back
Preservation groups contend Trump lacks unilateral authority to carry out the overhaul and accuse the White House of trying to “outrun the courts” by accelerating construction.
Earlier this month, an appeals court upheld the lower-court ruling, rejecting the Trump administration’s national-security rationale as “not an automatic get-out-of-law-free card” and concluding that congressional approval is required before construction can proceed.
For now, Roberts’ order means construction can continue as the Supreme Court considers whether to grant the Trump administration longer-term relief.
