This is the latest episode of a very costly saga involving Donald Trump. In the United States, a federal appeals court has allowed the temporary continuation of renovations on the White House ballroom, which were initiated by Donald Trump. However, the court has requested clarifications on national security issues.
Back in October, the Republican president had bulldozed an entire wing of the White House to build a ballroom capable of hosting up to 1,000 people for various receptions and dinners honoring foreign dignitaries. However, in December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) took legal action, accusing the Trump administration of not following legal requirements for public inquiry and not obtaining Congressional authorization for the project. The budget for the project, funded by private donations, doubled from $200 million to $400 million.
Construction work allowed until April 17
Last month, federal judge Richard Leon ordered a halt to the renovations, dealing a significant blow to one of the most ambitious projects undertaken at the White House in over a century.
In a ruling issued on Saturday, a three-judge panel from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, with a 2-1 decision, allowed the administration to continue construction until April 17 and “seek review from the Supreme Court.” The ruling also instructed federal judge Richard Leon to clarify certain issues regarding the safety and security of the project raised in previous proceedings.
Becoming a particularly dear subject to Donald Trump, he frequently mentions the progress of the construction on the east wing of the presidential residence during public appearances unrelated to the topic.
