The White House has defended the $400 million ballroom. It is argued that halting its construction could jeopardize the security of Donald Trump and his family. The Trump administration has appealed to resume the project.
White House comments on why new ballroom is ‘vital’
The White House has filed an appeal to resume the construction of the new ballroom in the East Wing. In a filing with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., on Thursday. The Trump administration argued that the project is essential to improving security for the President and his family.
The filing states that construction of the project is “necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House and its grounds. It added, “the ballroom construction site, and provide for the personal safety of the President and his staff.”
Another filing further describes the ballroom as “a vital project for the safety and security of the White House and the President, his family, and his staff.” The administration added, “Halting construction would imperil the President and others who live and work in the White House.”
The document also details all the safety measures that are already in place at the construction site. It reads, “As an example, the protective missile-resistant steel columns, beams, drone-proof roofing materials, and bullet, ballistic, and blast-proof glass are largely made, being used, and/or on their way to the project.”
“Likewise, the bomb shelters, hospital and medical area, protective partitioning, and Top Secret Military installations, structures, and equipment, are built and/or ready to be built, installed, and placed,” the filing adds. The administration further argued that stopping the construction of the ballroom “would imperil the President. Not just that, but also imperil “national security and indefinitely leave a large hole beside the Executive Residence.”
The appeal follows the temporary pause ordered by U.S. District Judge Richard Leo on the construction of the ballroom on March 31. The federal judge’s decision came amid the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s (NTHP) lawsuit against the project.
Originally written by Namrata Ghosh on Mandatory.
