President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday asked the US Supreme Court to allow the White House to continue construction on its $400 million ballroom project while it appeals a lower court’s order to halt the work.
Trump’s solicitor general petitioned the high court to suspend last week’s decision by a three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The lower court suspended its own ruling for two weeks to give Trump’s Republican administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court. Solicitor General D. A third judge disagreed, finding that the preservationist group that challenged the project had no legal right to sue.
21. The lower court’s 2-1 decision upheld an order to pause aboveground construction on the project, siding with historic preservationists who sued to stop construction of the ballroom.
“The district court elevated the aesthetic displeasure of a single passerby over the government’s security interests in the ballroom,” wrote Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump.
John Sauer asked the Supreme Court to rule on its stay petition before the appeals court panel’s decision takes effect on Aug.
