Trump administration files emergency motion to resume ballroom work, citing security issues

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

April 4, 2026 10:22 AM EDT Updated 5 hours ago


NEW YORK, April 4 (Reuters) - A ​judge's order to stop construction work on a White House ballroom ‌poses security risks, the Trump administration argued in an emergency motion that seeks to set aside the ruling.

The emergency motion filed on Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the ​District of Columbia argues that U.S. District Judge Richard Leon's decision has left the ​executive mansion "open and exposed" and is "threatening grave national-security harms to the ⁠White House, the President and his family, and the President’s staff."

Leon on ​Tuesday ruled that construction work on a White House ballroom must pause while a lawsuit works its ​way through the courts. The lawsuit seeks to halt the $400 million project on the site of the recently demolished East Wing, with plaintiffs arguing that it needs approval from Congress to proceed. Leon, an ​appointee of Republican former President George W. Bush, said he was pausing his ​order for 14 days in order to allow the administration of President Donald Trump to ‌appeal ⁠his decision.

The new motion filed by the National Park Service said the federal district court lacks the constitutional authority "to entertain this suit, which rests on a single pedestrian’s subjective architectural feelings." The initial lawsuit against the construction was brought by the National Trust ​for Historic Preservation, ​a nonprofit organization, ⁠alleging Trump exceeded his authority when he razed the historic East Wing and launched construction on the new building.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-files-emergency-motion-resume-ballroom-work-citing-security-2026-04-04/

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143641681

[walkingman]

1. Seems we can use "national security" to do just about anything we want?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. Trump exposed in latest White House East Wing court filing: analysis

This is mind blowing to me. The DOJ let trump draft part of the filing in the trump ballroom appeal. It is clear that trump drafted a good amount of this brief. I have trouble imaging any attorney who would put their name on this filing

Trump exposed in latest White House East Wing court filing: analysis #RawStory

— #TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2026-04-04T14:49:50.000Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-white-house-2676665160/

Donald Trump may have partly written the most recent White House East Wing court filing with his legal team, an analyst has claimed.

Trump has faced a series of legal challenges against his White House renovations, particularly a $400 million ballroom project and the refurbishing of the Eisenhower Building's exterior. A legal team working for Trump asked an appeals court yesterday (April 3) for an emergency ruling, which, if granted, would allow construction on the East Wing to continue.

The documents making the argument to the appeals court appear to have been partly written by the president himself, according to CBS News' Arden Farhi.

He wrote, "The opening pages of the court filing are loaded with exclamation points ('Time is of the essence!'), parenthetical asides, misplaced capital letters ('Almost 400 Million Dollars of private donations'), and multiple adjectives for emphasis ('shocking, unprecedented, and improper injunction') – all rhetorical flourishes of the president's online posts.

"One sentence runs 130 words and covers more than half a page. 'Private donors and American Patriots singlehandedly funded the 300 to 400 Million Dollar project (depending on finishes), which is on budget and ahead of schedule.

"'No taxpayer dollars are being used for the funding of this beautiful, desperately needed, and completely secure (for national security purposes) ballroom,' the filing reads."

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Reads like Solicitor General Donald Trump wrote it.

I am shocked that an attorney would sign this filing

Link to tweet

[choie]

14. Oh my god that is embarrassing.

They must have signed it "thank you for your attention to this matter" donald j. trump the president of the United States

[tanyev]

4. Pretty sure it was the hasty demolition of the East Wing that left it "open and exposed".

😒

[Grokenstein]

5. He really really REALLY needs that luxury bunker finished like RIGHT NOW

[Bayard]

8. Afraid Iran might come after him?

[Grokenstein]

16. Afraid *America* might come after him.

[Bayard]

19. With pitchforks and torches...

[twodogsbarking]

6. He tore it down. Geez.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. That's hyping it like a good carnival barker.

[erronis]

9. I hope everyone here realizes that the bunkers are to protect them against the American people.

These aren't protection against Russian ICBMs or Iranian missiles.

They are setting themselves up to survive when they need to use horrific weapons against antifa, and veterans and everyone cut off from their benefits. They'll try to use the US military until it refuses to use violence against us. Then they'll use their "stand back and stand by" crowd until they realize they are being played for dupes. Then the rando ICE agents and finally a special praetorium to do clean up - put they'll still be outside the bunkers. And then biological and chemical warfare on the remnants.

Most of the wealthy will be living outside of the US and on gated island residences. Waiting to come back and finally own the land just like their god told them they could.

[Talitha]

10. Dump is the big security threat.

[popsdenver]

11. It's Trump's

INSECURITY ISSUES that are the Security Threat.............

[Baitball Blogger]

12. Everything he does is without proper strategy or a Plan B.

I think he hastily approved the attack, which killed the Ayatollah and the shortlist of replacements. He moved so fast that he didn't have his protective bunker ready for a potential retaliation.

Now he's trying to force the issue. I suggest he listens carefully to the architectural criticisms and make the changes requested if he wants to move fast on this.

[turbinetree]

13. Coming from a traitor that took classified document to have them placed at his Florida home

sitting on his toilet while going to bathroom..........

[Buddyzbuddy]

15. The time to worry about security issues and the budget was before you tore up the people's house.

But, you knew that because this is your m.o.

Act irrationally and let others clean up your mess. Sorry, but Daddy isn't around anymore to drop off a sack of cash, you poor excuse of a human, let alone a "leader."

It should be left exposed, just like you've left the American citizenry exposed on so many, many levels.

[OldBaldy1701E]

17. 'Security Issues??'

Try again.

[Wonder Why]

18. With your medical issues, Dumbo, you don't need more room for them.

[Martin68]

20. He's run out of "emergencies." Like the boy who cried "wolf" nobody is taking them seriously anymore.