The federal lawsuit names President Trump, the National Park Service and several other government officials involved in the rapidly expanding project.
New architect tapped to lead White House ballroom project
Plans for the White House ballroom are moving forward under new architectural guidelines after controversy over the project’s size.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit on Dec. 12 aimed at blocking construction of President Donald Trump’s new White House ballroom, calling it illegal and asking a court to halt further construction until the plan goes through a legally mandated review process.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, names Trump, the National Park Service and several other government officials involved in the rapidly expanding project, which already includes the demolition of the East Tower and has drawn the ire of preservationists and former first ladies, including Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.
“No president, President Trump, President Biden, or anyone else, is legally permitted to demolish any portion of the White House without any vetting,” the complaint states. “And a president who builds a ballroom on public land without giving the public an opportunity to be consulted is not legally allowed.”
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom project has a $300 million price tag and is expected to seat about 1,000 people. This is an increase from plans announced in July for a banquet hall that would seat 650 people at a cost of $200 million.
The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires a review of projects that affect historic buildings, and excludes the White House, Supreme Court building, and U.S. Capitol.
National Trust CEO Carol Quillen said in a statement that submitting the project for review to the National Capital Planning Commission, the only planning agency with the authority to review construction, will protect the “iconic historic features” of the White House campus as construction progresses.
“Soliciting comments from the American people is a sign of respect and will help ensure a lasting legacy worthy of a government of, by, and for the people.”
The White House rejected the premise of the lawsuit on December 12th.
“President Trump has full legal authority to modernize, renovate and beautify the White House, as all of his predecessors have done,” White House press secretary Davis Ingle said in a statement.
The complaint alleges that construction has already begun, a claim the White House has repeatedly said is not true. Engle said the sound of a pile driver that Trump was recently talking about, much to the annoyance of first lady Melania Trump, was coming from the ongoing demolition work.
President Trump’s White House maintains that the NCPC has no jurisdiction over the demolition of federal buildings, only their construction. Under previous administrations, even minor renovations or changes to buildings such as sheds went through a review process.
Will Scharf, the Trump-appointed chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, said on Dec. 4 that the White House would submit a plan for review this month. The commission, which oversees the development of federal property in the Washington, D.C., area, was not consulted when the East Building was demolished in October to make way for a banquet hall.
Shortly after demolition of the East Tower began on October 20, Quillen claimed that President Trump’s project would “overwhelm the White House itself” at 55,000 square feet, adding that “(the addition) could permanently destroy the White House’s carefully balanced classical design with its two small, low East and West wings.”
(This story has been updated with more information.)
