White House cites national security to fight ballroom halt in National Trust suit
Preservationists including the National Trust have sued to halt construction of President Trump’s proposed East Wing ballroom and to force additional project reviews and congressional oversight. The administration and DOJ filed a memorandum and a 36‑page brief — citing a Secret Service declaration by Deputy Director Matthew Quinn — saying leaving the foundation unfinished would jeopardize protective operations, arguing the suit is partly moot and unripe because the East Wing has been demolished and above‑grade work is not expected to begin until April 2026, that draft drawings will be submitted to the NCPC and Commission of Fine Arts, and that a hearing is scheduled in Washington, D.C.
📌 Key Facts
- On Dec. 16, 2025, the Justice Department filed a 36‑page memorandum arguing that pausing work on the White House East Wing ballroom project would undermine national security and asking that below‑grade work continue.
- The filing cites a Secret Service declaration — from Deputy Director Matthew Quinn — saying leaving the East Wing site unfinished would compromise "safety and security requirements," hamper the agency’s protective mission, and require further site improvements.
- The government says below‑grade work (footings and structural concrete) should proceed for safety reasons; the National Park Service expects footings and structural concrete to start in January–February and does not expect above‑grade construction to begin until April 2026 at the earliest.
- As a discretionary step, the Executive Office of the President/administration says it will submit draft architectural drawings to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) in the coming weeks.
- The administration argues the National Trust’s lawsuit is partly moot (the East Wing has already been demolished) and unripe (final plans are not yet set), and a hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
- The project cost has risen to at least $300 million; former President Trump has said the ballroom will be privately funded by him and donors.
📰 Sources (3)
Trump ballroom construction must go on as a matter of "security," admin says
New information:
- DOJ submitted a 36-page filing arguing that below-grade work should continue due to security risks of leaving the East Wing foundation area unfinished.
- Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn filed a declaration stating a pause would hamper the agency’s protective mission and that further site improvements are required.
- NPS anticipates starting footings and structural concrete in January–February, with above-grade work not expected to begin until April at the earliest.
- The Executive Office of the President will, as a discretionary step, submit drafted drawings to the NCPC and the CFA.
- The government argues the National Trust’s case is partly moot (East Wing already demolished) and unripe (plans not final).
- A hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Trump admin defends White House ballroom as national security matter
New information:
- The Trump administration filed a memorandum Monday arguing a construction pause would undermine national security, citing a Secret Service declaration.
- Secret Service warns leaving the East Wing site unfinished would compromise 'safety and security requirements' needed to protect the president.
- Administration says it will submit draft architectural materials to the NCPC and the Commission of Fine Arts in the coming weeks.
- Government argues the suit is premature because above‑grade construction is not slated to begin until April 2026.
- Article reiterates the project cost has risen to at least $300 million and notes Trump’s claim it will be privately funded by him and donors.