US Appeals Court Allows Resumption of Trump's White House Ballroom Construction

A US appeals court has granted a stay allowing construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom to continue after a district judge had halted above-ground work citing national security concerns.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued the stay following an appeal by the Trump administration against US District Judge Richard Leon's order to stop construction.

Judge Leon had temporarily blocked all construction in March, ruling that the project required congressional approval and questioning the administration's classification of the ballroom plans as vital for national security.

The Justice Department argued that halting construction would jeopardize the President's safety and national security, emphasizing the need to complete the project which includes underground bomb shelters and medical facilities.

President Trump criticized the judge's ruling, stating that the ballroom is essential for secure meetings with world leaders and military operations, and insisted that no judge should be allowed to stop the project.

The legal dispute began after the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the White House, alleging that construction started without proper filings to the National Capital Planning Commission.

The appeals court's decision allows construction to continue until the next hearing scheduled for 5 June, marking a temporary victory for the administration in its effort to redesign the White House.

It remains unclear how the court will ultimately rule on the national security classification and congressional approval issues raised by the case.

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