National Trust Stands Firm: White House Ballroom Lawsuit Continues Despite DOJ Appeal Following Correspondents’ Dinner Incident

Preservationists remain firm in their legal battle against President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom. Despite the Department of Justice’s plea to retract the lawsuit after the recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the group has chosen to proceed.

In the aftermath of the incident at the media dinner, Trump and his allies have intensified their call for the ballroom. They argue that the event highlighted significant security challenges at large gatherings not held within the White House complex. Their appeal includes urging the National Trust for Historic Preservation to abandon its legal action.

Senior officials from the Justice Department have indicated their intention to seek a court dismissal of the lawsuit, citing “the exceptional circumstances” of the recent events as a compelling reason.

However, Gregory Craig, the attorney representing the Trust, has refused to comply with the Justice Department’s request. He stated that the fundamental legal questions underpinning the lawsuit remain unresolved.

Craig emphasized that the tragic incident does not alter the fact that the Constitution and various federal laws mandate Congressional approval for any such construction on White House grounds—a requirement that has yet to be fulfilled by Congress.

A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that Trump said would fit 999 people. Trump says the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for a below-ground bunker and security upgrades.

In its lawsuit, the Trust argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress.

A federal appeals court has allowed Trump to continue the project, ruling a day after a lower court judge continued to block above-ground construction on the site and scheduling a June 5 hearing to review the case.