Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow continued construction of White House ballroom

The outcome will determine whether the President can proceed with major construction projects on federal property without explicit Congressional funding or authorization, and whether current construction on the White House East Wing must cease by August 21.

• •The Trump administration is seeking a Supreme Court stay to continue construction on a $400 million White House ballroom project.
• •A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 that the President lacks unilateral authority to build the ballroom without Congressional approval.
• •The appeals court injunction against aboveground construction is scheduled to take effect on August 21.
• •The project involves a 90,000-square-foot structure replacing the former East Wing.
• •The administration claims the project is 65% complete and funded by $400 million in private donations.
• •Congressional Democrats allege that funds from tax legislation may be subsidizing the project.
• •The administration cites a July 8 missile threat against Air Force One as a justification for the ballroom's secure military-grade design.
• •Chief Justice John Roberts set a deadline of Tuesday for plaintiffs to respond to the stay petition.
• •The project is currently an open construction site, which the administration argues poses a security risk.
• •The administration plans to install 1 million pounds of rebar and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete in the coming week.