Trump asks US Supreme Court to allow ballroom work to continue

What the report says

US President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to let construction continue on a planned $400m ballroom at the White House while his administration appeals a court order that would halt the project. The request, filed by US Solicitor General D John Sauer, seeks to pause a stop-work ruling that is due to take effect on 21 August unless the court intervenes, according to BBC World News.

The dispute stems from a lawsuit brought last year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A federal appeals court recently backed an earlier decision requiring congressional approval before the work can proceed, after the administration began demolishing part of the White House East Wing in October to make way for the project. The filing argues that stopping construction now would be harmful and says the ballroom work is already about 65% complete.

Trump has said the White House needs a large event space and that the project is important for security. His lawyers also contend the ballroom is being funded by private donations rather than taxpayer money, and therefore does not require congressional approval. More broadly, the case is part of a wider debate over how far the administration can go in altering federal landmarks without the usual review and public-comment processes, a point raised in other Trump redevelopment plans as well.