A divided US Supreme Court has cleared the way for construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom to continue while legal challenges move through lower courts, despite a strong dissent from Chief Justice John Roberts.
The US Supreme Court has allowed the White House to continue construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million ballroom project, handing the administration a significant victory as legal challenges over the development continue.
The apparent 5-4 decision replaces a temporary order issued earlier this month, shortly before a court-ordered halt to construction was due to take effect.
Chief Justice John Roberts dissented from Monday’s ruling, joined by the court’s three liberal-leaning justices. Roberts argued that the project is likely unlawful because it has not received approval from Congress.
“Today’s decision is no victory for the separation of powers,” Roberts wrote in his dissent.
The majority did not rule directly on whether the ballroom itself is legal. Instead, the justices found that the National Trust for Historic Preservation likely lacked the legal standing to challenge the project.
The White House has argued that the ballroom addresses national security concerns, including by shielding a planned underground military installation and providing a more secure venue for large events than the temporary tents currently used.
The preservation group, however, has challenged the project over its impact on the White House complex and surrounding historic landscape.
More from BusinessTrump celebrated the Supreme Court ruling, saying in a social media post that he was pleased the court had cleared the way for the “Ballroom/Military Complex” to be built without further uncertainty.
The legal battle will now return to lower courts, where the broader questions surrounding the project remain unresolved.
The ruling could nevertheless have significant practical consequences. Court filings indicate that key parts of the ballroom project could be completed within months, potentially allowing construction to advance substantially before the legal challenges are fully resolved.
The decision represents another important test of the limits of presidential power as Trump pushes ahead with an ambitious effort to reshape the White House complex and the US capital.
