Supreme Court allows Trump’s White House ballroom construction to continue for now

U.S.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily allowed above-ground construction of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom to continue Friday, issuing a stay of a lower court injunction that would block the work.

Roberts issued an administrative stay of a preliminary injunction entered April 16 by the U.S.

District Court for the District of Columbia, putting the injunction on hold "pending further order" from Roberts or the Supreme Court.

The move puts the case in a temporary holding pattern while the Supreme Court considers whether construction can continue and the underlying legal battle plays out.

Above-ground construction can continue for now.

JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO HALT WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM CONSTRUCTION, ESCALATING LEGAL FEUD A federal appeals court mandate blocking construction had been scheduled to take effect Friday.

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court last week to intervene in the months-long legal battle, arguing that halting construction would threaten national security and the safety of the president and other senior officials.

TRUMP SAYS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM RULING JEOPARDIZES LIVES OF FUTURE PRESIDENTS, VOWS SUPREME COURT APPEAL In its emergency application, the administration described the project as an "integrated military complex" that includes a secure ballroom space and argued that the project is critical to protecting the president, his family, White House staff and visiting foreign leaders.

The administration also pointed to assassination attempts against Trump in arguing for additional security measures associated with the new complex.

TRUMP PULLS BACK CURTAIN ON WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM’S FORTRESS-LIKE DEFENSES ABOVE AND DEEP BELOW The emergency application went to Roberts, who handles emergency matters arising from the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is suing to block the project, opposed the administration's request and argued that Congress has authority over federal property and had not authorized the ballroom project.

REPUBLICANS RUSH TO GREEN LIGHT WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM FOLLOWING THIRD TRUMP ASSASSINATION SCARE The preservation group also accused the administration of attempting to outrun judicial review by accelerating construction while the litigation proceeded.