Kathmandu— The administration of former United States President Donald Trump has appealed to the Supreme Court seeking permission to continue construction of a planned $400 million ballroom at the White House. The appeal follows a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that paused construction unless Congress authorizes the project, arguing such a large-scale alteration of the presidential residence requires congressional approval rather than executive action. The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the request on Friday, asserting the ballroom is vital for national security and claiming the injunction is unlawful.

Legal Challenges and Appeals Court Ruling

On August 7th, the appeals court ordered a halt to construction unless congressional approval was obtained by August 21st. However, this injunction was temporarily stayed for 14 days to allow the DOJ time to appeal to the Supreme Court. The ruling mirrored an earlier decision from District Court Judge Richard Leon in April, which specifically targeted above-ground construction altering the White House’s visible characteristics. The appeals court panel stated that “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.”

National Trust Lawsuit and Project Costs

The legal battle began in December when the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit after the Trump administration demolished part of the East Wing and initiated work on the 90,000 square foot ballroom last year. Despite the court rulings, Trump has maintained his intention to proceed with the project. The cost of the ballroom has significantly increased, contradicting earlier statements by Trump that it would be funded entirely through private donations.

Security Justifications and Wider Capital Plans

The DOJ argues construction is necessary for security reasons, while Trump and his allies claim the new ballroom is needed to host secure events following reported assassination attempts. Trump detailed planned security features in a recent statement, including bomb shelters, medical facilities, and defenses against drones and missiles, describing it as “one big, expensive, and very complex unit.” Critics have pointed out that the ballroom project aligns with a broader effort by the former president to reshape Washington D.C. in his image, which includes proposals for structures like a large triumphal arch.

As of Friday, the Supreme Court has received the DOJ’s request for a stay and will consider whether to allow construction to resume while litigation continues.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.