Nicolai Haugsted
The US Justice Department takes drastic measure.
Fresh arguments from the US Justice Department have pushed President Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom project back into the spotlight following a deadly shooting near a security checkpoint outside the presidential residence.
Government lawyers asked a federal judge on Sunday to remove legal barriers slowing construction of the planned ballroom, arguing that Saturday’s attack demonstrated an urgent need for stronger protective infrastructure around the White House complex.
Court documents submitted by the Justice Department described upgraded security measures as critical for national security and linked the ballroom project directly to broader protection efforts at the presidential compound.
“This is a terrible, tremendously harmful case to the United States of America, and all it stands for!” the filing stated.
Federal Judge Previously Blocked Construction
Legal disputes over the ballroom have been ongoing for months.
US District Judge Richard Leon ruled in April that Trump lacked the authority to move forward with the project without approval from Congress. Leon ordered a halt to above-ground construction work tied to the ballroom proposal.
Appeals court judges later paused that injunction, allowing construction activity to continue while the legal battle moved forward.
Justice Department officials have already attempted once before to persuade Leon to abandon the case. Earlier efforts came after authorities disrupted an attempted attack connected to the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April.
No ruling has yet been issued on that request.
Preservation Group Refuses to Withdraw Lawsuit
National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organisation created through congressional charter, filed the lawsuit challenging the project.
Representatives for the group previously rejected calls from the Justice Department to abandon the legal action following April’s security incident.
Arguments from preservation advocates have centred on concerns about executive authority and the impact of major structural changes to the White House grounds without congressional approval.
Gunman Died After White House Checkpoint Shooting
Saturday’s incident near the White House added fresh urgency to the administration’s legal push.
According to the Secret Service, a gunman opened fire near a White House checkpoint before officers returned fire. Authorities said the suspect later died after being transported to hospital.
Federal officials have not publicly outlined how the ballroom project would specifically improve security operations, though court filings repeatedly referenced the need for “top level, state of the art security” around the White House complex.
