Construction on the new White House ballroom can continue, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a victory for President Trump.
The court, in a 5-4 decision, rejected a challenge from National Trust for Historic Preservation that was seeking to halt the massive project slated to cost at least $400 million.
In an unsigned majority opinion, the court said the trust does not have legal standing to bring the lawsuit.
But the court did not rule on whether Trump has the authority to carry out the construction without congressional approval, which was the Trust’s argument to stop the ballroom.
“Today, we do not pass upon the legality of the government’s East Wing project. We conclude only that, based on the submissions before us, the government is likely to prevail in showing that the Trust lacks … standing to challenge the project in federal court,” the court said.
Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent and declared the construction was illegal.
“Construction of the ballroom has proceeded apace for the better part of a year. That construction is likely unlawful,” Roberts wrote.
