DOJ defends $400m Trump ballroom

The Justice Department asked a federal judge late Monday to let President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project move ahead, tying the request to Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. (politico.com) (justice.gov) The filing sought to lift an injunction in the lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has challenged Trump’s $400 million plan to replace the East Wing with a 90,000-square-foot ballroom. (politico.com) (nbcnews.com) Justice Department officials wrote that the preservation group was driven by “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and used capitalized phrases and exclamation points that several outlets said echoed Trump’s Truth Social style. (nytimes.com) (abcnews.go.com) (news.bloomberglaw.com) The government’s new argument is that the April 25 attack showed the need for a more secure event space on the White House grounds, rather than large off-site hotel ballrooms. The Justice Department said the alleged gunman breached a security checkpoint before opening fire. (justice.gov) (politico.com) The National Trust has not dropped the case. The group said the shooting did not erase legal requirements and called the administration’s effort to blame the lawsuit for security risks “irresponsible.” (washingtonpost.com) The legal fight has shifted quickly this month. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon blocked above-ground work on March 31 absent express authorization from Congress, and a federal appeals court temporarily put that order on hold on April 18. (politico.com 1) (politico.com 2) Congress has not settled the money question. Some Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, want to speed approval of up to $400 million, while Senator Rick Scott said the ballroom should be financed privately, not by taxpayers. (politico.com) (nbcnews.com) (usatoday.com) Trump has long said donors and corporations would cover the ballroom’s cost, though reporting has said taxpayer money would still be needed for security and some lawmakers are now openly discussing direct federal funding. (politico.com) (independent.co.uk) The next test is in court and on Capitol Hill at the same time. The administration wants the judge to step aside, while Republicans still need a legal and political path to pay for the ballroom Trump wants built. (politico.com 1) (politico.com 2)