Construction of the new White House ballroom may temporarily continue while the Supreme Court considers whether to authorize the project to proceed for a longer period.
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John Roberts, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, suspended previous court rulings that had ordered the work to stop. His order provides no reasoning and will remain in effect until a new decision is issued by Roberts or the full Supreme Court.
The project is estimated to cost around $400 million. It calls for the construction of a ballroom covering approximately 8,400 square meters on the site of the White House’s East Wing, which was demolished on the orders of the Trump administration.
The U.S. administration says that around 65 percent of the work has been completed so far. Builders are carrying out the project at a rapid pace, while around $200 million from private donors has already been spent or secured for the initiative.
The White House maintains that the president has full authority to make alterations and renovations to the building. According to the administration, completion of the ballroom is also linked to national security requirements.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation opposes the project, noting that it has not received congressional approval. The trust accuses the administration of rushing the work before the courts issue a final ruling.
Roberts’ decision is only temporary and does not resolve the case. The Supreme Court must determine whether the project may proceed in the long term or whether the restrictions ordered by the lower courts will be reinstated.
