politics

Chief Justice John Roberts Allows Trump’s Ballroom Crews to Keep Working 20-Hour Days

Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday allowed the White House to continue construction on President Donald Trump’s $400 million ballroom project for now, as the Supreme Court considers the Trump administration’s emergency request to intervene in lawsuits over the project.

Chief Justice John Roberts Allows Trump’s Ballroom Crews to Keep Working 20-Hour Days

TL;DR

  • Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary order allowing the White House to continue construction on President Trump's $400 million ballroom project.
  • The order will remain in effect until the Supreme Court makes a more permanent decision on the emergency request.
  • The administration claims the president has total authority to renovate federal buildings and cites national security concerns for the ballroom project.
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation argues Trump lacks unilateral authority and accuses the White House of accelerating construction.
  • The Trump administration states that 65% of the work on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom is complete, with crews working 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • A district court judge had previously ordered a stop to aboveground construction, a ruling that was temporarily suspended and then upheld by an appeals court panel.