Kathmandu— A divided United States Supreme Court has allowed construction on a $400 million ballroom project at the White House to continue, replacing a temporary order that had halted work earlier this month. The decision is seen as a win for President Donald Trump, who has been pushing forward with the project despite legal challenges and concerns about its legality.

Court's Decision

The apparent 5-4 decision allows construction to continue while lawsuits play out. The majority opinion did not decide on the legality of the project but found that a preservation group likely lacked legal standing to challenge it. Chief Justice John Roberts, who publicly disagreed with the ruling, wrote a strong dissent, calling the project “likely unlawful” because it has not been approved by Congress.

Legal Challenges

The lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation argues that Trump lacks unilateral authority to undertake the work, which includes demolishing the East Wing of the White House. The group’s lawyers accused the White House of trying to “outrun the courts” by accelerating construction. In lower courts, the administration has argued that the president has total authority over renovations and cited national security concerns as a reason for completing the project.

Project Timeline

According to court documents, key portions of the project could be complete within months. The Trump administration has said crews are working 20 hours a day on the planned 8,400 square meter (90,000 square foot) ballroom. The framework is expected to be completed in November, and much of the facade done by April, with full completion slated for August 2028.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.