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A U.S. judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom construction project, ruling that proper procedures were not followed before work commenced. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon stated that the National Trust is "likely to succeed on the merits" because no existing statute grants the President the authority he claimed for the project.
Trump quickly criticised the ruling on his social media site, saying that the project is going well, and "will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World".
The Trump administration previously said its plan was more economical than renovating the East Wing. It also noted that many presidents made changes to the White House.
Leon's ruling, published on Tuesday, continued: "The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!”
"Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!" he added.
The 35-page ruling uses a large number of exclamation points, arguing that Congress must give approval in order for the project to resume.
The order takes effect in 14 days, allowing a possible appeal.
In the lawsuit, the preservation group argued that the White House broke the law by beginning construction without filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission, by not seeking an environmental assessment of the project, and by declining to seek authorisation from Congress.
It also alleged Trump was violating the US Constitution, "which reserves to Congress the right to dispose of and make all rules regarding property belonging to the United States".
In his conclusion, Leon writes that with White House approval from Congress, "the American people will benefit from the branches of Government exercising their constitutionally prescribed roles."
