The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt construction of a new ballroom at the White House, arguing the project proceeded without required review or notification. The lawsuit says officials failed to alert federal advisory bodies and Congress before demolishing parts of the East Wing to make way for the expansion.
CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman said the Trust contends the proper process wasn’t followed and that agencies such as the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, along with Congress, should have been notified before demolition and construction began. The group wants the remaining demolition and construction stopped while the dispute is resolved.
The White House has defended the project. Spokesman Davis Ingle said the president has legal authority to modernize, renovate and beautify the presidential residence, as previous presidents have done. Inside and outside the White House, work is audible; reporters on site described drilling and pounding as crews continue building the new space.
President Trump has said the ballroom is on time and under budget, though reported cost estimates have varied — from about $200 million to figures closer to $300 million. Critics note the project contradicts earlier assurances that the residence would not be altered. The lawsuit highlights that the East Wing, historically an entrance for state events and housing for the first lady’s offices, is being reconfigured to create a roughly 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom.
Named as defendants in the case are President Trump, the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and the General Services Administration. The outcome will determine whether construction can continue while the legal challenges proceed.