The Trump administration has told a federal court that construction of a new White House ballroom must proceed, citing national security concerns and arguing that a historic preservation group seeking to stop the project lacks the legal standing to do so.
In a filing submitted Monday, the administration responded to a lawsuit brought last week by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is asking a judge to pause the project until it undergoes independent reviews, a public comment period and approval from Congress.
The government’s 36-page response included a declaration from Matthew C. Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, outlining why work at the former East Wing site should not be interrupted. Quinn said additional construction remains necessary to meet the agency’s “safety and security requirements,” though the filing did not detail the specific risks involved. The administration said it is prepared to discuss classified concerns with the judge privately, without the plaintiffs present.
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The East Wing previously sat above an emergency operations bunker used by the president.
Quinn warned that even a temporary pause would “consequently hamper” the Secret Service’s ability to carry out its protective duties.
A hearing in the case was scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington.
Beyond its legal arguments, the filing offered the clearest explanation so far of how the ballroom project advanced quickly through the administration and how its scope has continued to evolve.
According to the documents, final architectural plans have not yet been completed, even as demolition and site preparation continue. John Stanwich, the National Park Service’s liaison to the White House, wrote that underground work remains ongoing and that foundation construction is expected to begin in January. He added that above-ground construction “is not anticipated to begin until April 2026, at the earliest.”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation did not respond to requests for comment, according to AP’s reports.
The nonprofit organization filed its lawsuit in U.S. District Court last Friday, arguing that the project violates federal law.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else,” the lawsuit states. “And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.”
Trump ordered the East Wing demolished in October as part of a plan to construct a privately funded ballroom estimated to cost $300 million. The proposed structure would span roughly 90,000 square feet and host up to 1,000 guests. The president has said previous administrations sought a larger event space and that the ballroom would eliminate the need for temporary tents used for major functions on the South Lawn.
The Trust argues that the project should have been submitted for review by the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts and Congress before demolition began. The lawsuit notes that letters were sent to those bodies and the National Park Service on Oct. 21 requesting an immediate halt and compliance with federal requirements, but no response was received.
The complaint cites multiple federal statutes outlining the role of planning agencies and lawmakers in major government construction projects.
Justice Department attorneys countered that the president has broad authority to alter the White House, pointing to more than two centuries of renovations and additions to the Executive Mansion. They also argue that the statutes cited by the plaintiffs do not apply to the president.
The administration further contends that the lawsuit’s claims regarding the East Wing demolition are “moot” because the structure has already been removed and cannot be restored. Claims related to future construction are described as “unripe,” since the final plans have yet to be approved.
Government lawyers also argued that the Trust cannot show “irreparable harm,” noting that above-ground construction is months away and that consultations with federal planning and design bodies “will soon be underway without this Court’s involvement.”
While the ballroom proposal has drawn criticism from preservationists, architects and political opponents, the lawsuit represents the most significant effort to date to slow or halt a project that would be nearly twice the size of the White House as it existed before the East Wing’s removal.
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The administration’s filing also pointed to a 2000 National Park Service Comprehensive Design Plan, which identified the need for a larger White House event space to accommodate growing crowds and major official functions.
