In Washington D.C., a federal judge stated on Tuesday (December 16th) that he is unlikely to order the government to immediately stop construction of the new White House banquet hall planned by President Trump, during a lawsuit hearing regarding the project.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon indicated during Tuesday’s hearing that he is unlikely to approve the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request for a temporary restraining order. The organization alleges in the lawsuit that President Trump and federal agencies initiated the 90,000-square-foot project without the necessary legal reviews and approvals.
Leon pointed out that the organization failed to prove that allowing the construction to continue would result in “irreparable harm,” but he also cautioned the government that construction should be limited to underground work unrelated to the future detailed design.
The judge stated that he will soon issue a formal order and hold another hearing in January next year.
Following the hearing, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on the social media platform X that the project is “completely legal” and the Justice Department will continue to defend it.
The construction of this large banquet hall involved extensive renovation of the 120-year-old East Wing of the White House, sparking criticism from opponents who accuse Trump of pushing the project forward without proper review.
In its application for a temporary restraining order, the National Trust for Historic Preservation claimed that the project has caused “irreversible harm” to the White House and its surrounding environment.
The lawsuit alleges that Trump did not seek public input before commencing construction and disregarded relevant regulations, which require consultation with the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts before demolishing the White House East Wing and commencing the banquet hall project.
In documents submitted by the Trump administration on Monday, it stated the project is legal, pointing out that previous presidents have also renovated the White House, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt who constructed the White House East Wing itself. The documents also mentioned the necessity of the new banquet hall for hosting national events and that its design is still evolving, with above-ground construction not scheduled until April, making an emergency order unnecessary.
The documents further noted: “The President has the authority to modify the structure of his residence under statutory authority, a power that is supported by basic principles of executive authority.”
Justice Department lawyer Adam Gustafson told Leon on Tuesday that the construction plans for the White House banquet hall have not been finalized, including the building size. He mentioned that the government intends to submit preliminary plans by the end of the month.
(This article referenced reporting from Reuters)