DOJ cites Washington dinner shooting in lawsuit over White House ballroom
Summary
The US Department of Justice has asked a judge to allow work to continue on President Donald Trump's new White House ballroom, citing the recent shooting at the Washington Correspondent's Dinner as a reason for needing a safer event space. Preservationists have sued to stop the $400 million project, arguing it lacked proper approvals and violated historic preservation rules.Key Facts
- A federal judge ordered a pause on construction of President Trump’s new White House ballroom after a lawsuit from preservationists.
- The lawsuit claims President Trump did not get required approvals from Congress and federal agencies for the project.
- The East Wing of the White House, built in 1902, was demolished in October to make room for the new ballroom.
- The Department of Justice wants the judge to lift the pause, saying the ballroom would provide safer space for presidential events after a recent shooting in Washington.
- On Saturday, an armed suspect tried to enter the Washington Correspondent’s Dinner, causing evacuation and panic among attendees.
- President Trump has said the ballroom is being built on one of the safest pieces of land in the country to improve security.
- The preservationists’ group, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, says they will continue the lawsuit.
- Legal experts think the government’s request to resume construction may not convince the judge to change his decision.
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