President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to permit continued construction of a $400m White House ballroom, following an appeals court ruling that the project requires authorisation from Congress.
Key facts
- Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to allow White House ballroom construction to continue.
- The project is valued at $400m, according to Al Jazeera.
- An appeals court ruled the administration must seek authorisation from Congress to proceed.
- The administration argues forcing the president to go 'hat-in-hand to Congress' would be 'dangerous', according to the BBC.
- Trump tore down the White House East Wing to make way for the ballroom, according to CNBC.
President Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to allow construction of a new White House ballroom to continue, escalating a legal dispute over the project to the country’s highest court.
The request follows a lower court decision. According to Al Jazeera, an appeals court previously ruled that the Trump administration must seek authorisation from Congress before continuing with the project.
The ballroom project is valued at $400m, according to Al Jazeera. As part of the works, Trump tore down the White House East Wing to make way for the ballroom, CNBC reported.
In its filing, the administration argued that requiring the president to obtain congressional permission would set a troubling precedent. Forcing the US president to go ‘hat-in-hand to Congress’ for permission would be ‘dangerous’, the administration said, according to the BBC.
The case now sits with the Supreme Court, which will decide whether construction can proceed while the underlying legal questions are resolved.
Why it matters
The dispute pits presidential authority against congressional oversight over a high-profile and costly change to the White House. The Supreme Court's response could shape how much control a president has to alter federal property without legislative approval.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the White House ballroom project worth?
The project is valued at $400m, according to Al Jazeera.
Why is the project before the Supreme Court?
An appeals court ruled the Trump administration must seek authorisation from Congress to continue the project, and Trump has asked the Supreme Court to allow work to proceed, according to Al Jazeera and the BBC.
What has already been done to the White House for the ballroom?
Trump tore down the White House East Wing to make way for the ballroom project, according to CNBC.