The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a federal lawsuit Friday to block President Trump’s construction of a large new ballroom on White House grounds, arguing that he violated at least four laws in bypassing any review process.
The lawsuit seeks to force Mr. Trump to submit his plans for a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom to several bodies and Congress for public review and input before he can further proceed on the project. The White House’s East Wing has already been demolished to make way for the ballroom, and Mr. Trump has said work is audible through the night.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else,” the suit states. “And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.”
The White House has maintained that the grounds are exempt from the National Historical Preservation Act, but lawyers for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, an organization chartered by Congress to preservation to America’s historic buildings, argue Mr. Trump is violating other sections of U.S. Code.
The suit points to a section of federal law that states, “A building or structure shall not be erected on any reservation, park or public grounds of the federal government in the District of Columbia without express authority of Congress.”
The suit argues that Mr. Trump was required to submit plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts and Congress before demolishing the East Wing. And it says he must follow the legal process before continuing any work on the property.
Mr. Trump surprised many in October when he abruptly tore down one side of the White House, demolishing the entire East Wing to make way for his 90,000-square-foot ballroom. Mr. Trump has told people working on the project that he does not need to follow permitting, zoning or code requirements because the structure is on White House grounds and he has the final say.
A White House spokesman said in a statement that Mr. Trump had authority to make changes on the property as he saw fit.
“President Trump has full legal authority to modernize, renovate and beautify the White House — just like all of his predecessors did,” said the spokesman, Davis Ingle.
Luke Broadwater covers the White House for The Times.
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