Supreme Court just let Trump KEEP building his $400 million White House ballroom

Hours before a court order to stop the work was set to take effect at midnight. The one-page temporary order was signed by Chief Justice John Roberts. It gave no reasoning and is not a final ruling. For now, it keeps construction going while the Supreme Court considers the Trump administration’s emergency request to intervene. A 250-person crew has been working the East Wing site 20 hours a day, seven days a week. On Aug. 14, the administration told the Supreme Court the project was already “65% complete in its entirety, and moving quickly toward total completion.” Joshua Fisher, the White House official managing the project, told the justices that even if a court eventually ordered the building taken down or altered, “there would be no way to do so.” Two courts have already found the 90,000-square-foot ballroom unlawful without congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, ordered above-ground work stopped while expressly allowing bunkers, medical facilities and other underground security construction to continue. On Aug. 7, a D.C. Circuit panel upheld him 2-1, finding that Congress has the authority “to regulate the construction and demolition of White House structures.” But Leon’s order never actually took effect. It was paused during appeals, and construction continued. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued after the East Wing was demolished, accused the administration of “trying to outrun judicial review.” If you appreciate my posts, it would mean the world if you followed my page. Thank you for being here.