THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

DOJ lawyer argues the courts can't stop Trump's ballroom project Last March, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon ruled that President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project is illegal because "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have." But even if higher courts ultimately agree with Leon, a Justice Department lawyer argued on Friday, they cannot stop the project. The lawyer, Yaakov Roth, was asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn Leon's preliminary injunction , which it temporarily stayed in April, or block it while the case, National Trust for Historic Preservation v. NPS , is pending. Because the ballroom project serves national security interests and is already pretty far along, Roth said, it would be an "abuse of discretion" to order that it be halted pending congressional approval. "When did it become impossible for courts to stop this project?" Judge Patricia Millett, a Barack Obama appointee, asked Roth. "I think it would've been improper to enjoin it even on day one," he replied. Even if "this were complete lawlessness by the government," the project "couldn't be stopped?" Millett asked. "I think that's …

Court can't stop Trump ballroom construction, government lawyer tells ... Construction on the White House Ballroom continues Friday, June 5, 2026, in Washington, as seen from the Washington Monument. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert) WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers representing the federal government argued Friday that a court could not stop construction ofa White House ballroombecause it was already underway and because of the sensitive security concerns they say the structure is meant to address. Attorney Yaakov Roth, speaking during an exchange with U.S. Appeals Court Judge Patricia Millett, said only Congress could halt the $400 million project. The administration has been asking the court to allow it to press on with the ballroom without congressional approval. At issue is an April 16 order from U.S. District Judge Richard Leon for Trump’s Republican administration tohalt aboveground work on the 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom. Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, allowed for construction to continue on belowground work on a bunker and other “national security facilities” at the site. The hearing Friday centered on who has stand…

JUST IN: Trump administration argues courts lack grounds to halt White House ballroom project even if it was clearly illegal. DOJ attorney also contends no lawsuit could stop Trump from tearing down Statue of Liberty if he wanted to. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

JUST IN: Trump administration argues courts lack grounds to halt White House ballroom project even if it was clearly illegal. DOJ attorney also contends no lawsuit could stop Trump from tearing down Statue of Liberty if he wanted to. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/06...

Court can't stop Trump ballroom construction, government lawyer tells judge Attorney Yaakov Roth, speaking during an exchange with U.S. Appeals Court Judge Patricia Millett, said only Congress could halt the $400 million project.

Ballroom Brawl Exposes Scary Legal Loophole | Political Insiders Justice Department lawyers drew fire after telling a federal appeals court that fast action could leave even the Statue of Liberty beyond judicial reach. Quick Take The Justice Department said no court could stop Trump’s ballroom project once construction moved fast enough. Judge Patricia Millett pressed that view with a Statue of Liberty hypothetical during oral arguments. Reporter accounts say DOJ lawyer Yaakov Roth answered that the same theory would apply if the government moved quickly. The dispute now centers on standing, remedy, and how far courts can go after work is already underway. What the Justice Department Told the Court During oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Justice Department argued that the White House ballroom case could not be stopped by judges once the project moved ahead. Reporters said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth told the panel that no one could sue in time if the government acted quickly enough. [2] [3] [5] That answer landed with force because Judge Patricia Millett pushed the point with a dramatic e…

No court has authority to block Trump’s White House ballroom, DoJ lawyer says <p>Trump administration has asked DC circuit court of appeals to reverse lower court decision which blocked construction of $400m ballroom</p><p>No court has the authority to halt construction of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/donaldtrump">Donald Trump’s</a> White House ballroom and a secure underground facility, a Department of Justice lawyer has argued, suggesting only US Congress had the power to stop the project.</p><p>The Trump administration has asked the Washington DC circuit court of appeals to reverse a lower court decision which blocked construction of a $400m ballroom on the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing. Construction of a secure bunker for staff underground at the site was allowed to proceed while the dispute between Washington DC preservationists and the White House continues.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/05/doj-trump-white-house-ballroom">Continue reading...</a>