The National Trust for Historic Preservation is standing firm against federal pressure to abandon its legal challenge to President Donald Trump's White House ballroom construction project. In a statement Monday, Carol Quillen, the organization's head, flatly rejected the Justice Department's request to drop the suit, saying the lawsuit "endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law."
The Justice Department had sent a letter the previous day arguing that the litigation poses a threat to national security, claiming the "lawsuit puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk." Brett A. Shumate, the assistant attorney general for the civil division, contended in his correspondence that the ballroom project is "essential for the safety and security" of the president and successors.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt seized on the same security argument during her Monday briefing, framing the ballroom as critical infrastructure rather than a luxury amenity. "The White House ballroom project is not just a fun project for President Trump like you will read in the media," Leavitt said. She emphasized that a larger, secure facility would allow the presidential line of succession to "gather freely and safely without the fear of threats or political violence."
The administration's push for urgency followed a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday that left questions about event security when high-profile officials including the president, vice president, Cabinet members, and congressional leaders are present. Trump and his allies quickly cited the incident as evidence that a new ballroom was necessary, though the annual dinner is typically hosted by media organizations and its venue location remains uncertain.
Quillen's response to the Justice Department acknowledged the value of a larger meeting space but underscored a key legal obstacle. "We have always acknowledged the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House. Building it lawfully requires the approval of Congress, which the Administration could seek at any time," she said. According to the trust's position, construction is permitted to continue until June 5, when the next scheduled oral arguments in the case are set to occur.
The dispute centers on whether the ballroom project complies with applicable law and regulatory requirements. The Justice Department's letter suggested that once the ballroom is complete, "President Trump and his successors will no longer need to venture beyond the safety of the White House perimeter to attend large gatherings at the Washington Hilton ballroom." That claim appeared to contradict the historical reality that presidents regularly travel domestically and internationally for events ranging from state dinners to public appearances, conferences, and campaign rallies.
The Justice Department did not respond to requests for additional comment on the trust's refusal to withdraw its lawsuit.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "The administration is wrapping a construction project in national security language, but the preservation group's point stands: if Congress hasn't approved it, the ballroom shouldn't be built, no matter how convenient it might be."
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