A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump's ambitious plan to construct a massive ballroom addition to the White House, ruling that the approval process moved too quickly. Federal Judge Richard Leon paused the construction project after critics took the matter to federal court, arguing that the process had been rushed compared to other major public construction projects in Washington DC.
The planned ballroom addition, which would reportedly be more than twice the size of the White House itself, had already seen the eastern wing of the White House demolished and construction cranes positioned on site. According to reports, the project had been fast-tracked through all approval stages with minimal review, while similar major public construction projects typically undergo extensive scrutiny and consultation periods that can take years.
Judge Leon reportedly believes Congress should decide on the construction, while the presidential administration is appealing the decision, citing both the residence's and president's security concerns. Critics, including architects, urban planners, and heritage conservationists, had pointed out flaws and questionable solutions in the completed blueprints submitted in January, which reportedly included design elements like a large staircase on the wing's front that led nowhere.
The project, announced last summer, had blueprints developed in the fall and was finalized in January, with a committee giving final approval for the plans just three months later in March, though with implementation obstacles placed on the actual construction work.