Source: Fortune.com
Summary
A federal appeals court has instructed a lower court to reconsider the national security implications of halting construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom. The appeals court said it did not have enough information to decide how much of the project can be suspended without jeopardizing the safety of the president, his family, or the White House staff. The case was brought by a preservationist group, which argued that Trump lacks the authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval.
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The White House argues that the ballroom project includes critical security features, such as bomb shelters and a medical facility, which are necessary for the safety and security of the president and others. However, the appeals court noted that the government’s concerns focused on below-ground security work, which the White House argued was “distinct from construction of the ballroom itself and could proceed independently.” Now, the White House seems to suggest that those security upgrades are “inseparable” from the project as a whole.
Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said the organization awaits further clarification from the district court.
The appeals court’s decision comes after a trial judge barred work from proceeding without congressional approval, but suspended enforcement of that order for 14 days.
The Trump administration has argued that the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for construction of underground bunkers and security upgrades.
One thing is clear: the White House is trying to have it both ways.
Author: Evan Null
