Trump faces setback from U.S. court

A U.S. appeals court has dealt a blow to the Trump administration's plans, upholding a preliminary injunction that halts the construction of a large ballroom at the White House. The ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the non-profit National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued the administration last year.

The preservation group challenged the demolition of the East Wing and the subsequent construction of the 8,360-square-meter ballroom, arguing it proceeded without the necessary approval from Congress. The court's decision effectively blocks these actions, preserving the existing structure and requiring proper legislative consent for major alterations.

Judge Richard Leon, appointed by former President George W. Bush, had previously issued two injunctions against the above-ground construction, though he permitted underground work to continue. Leon ruled that no federal law grants the president the authority to build such a facility without Congressional endorsement. The administration contended the project was vital for official events and White House security.

This ambitious project is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to reshape the landscape of Washington D.C.'s governmental buildings and national monuments. The Justice Department argued that courts should not interfere with privately funded projects and that halting construction at any stage was inappropriate. They also asserted that the preservation group's "architectural preferences" should not supersede national security interests, citing increased vulnerability of the East Wing to attacks.

However, the preservation group's lawyer countered that the administration was simply unwilling to seek Congressional approval. The appeals court has suspended the injunction's effect for 14 days, providing the Trump administration an opportunity to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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They just don't want to go to Congress.