US Supreme Court allows White House ballroom construction to proceed

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily permitted construction to resume on a $400 million ballroom at the White House while legal proceedings continue.

In an emergency decision, a five-justice conservative majority lifted a lower court injunction that had halted the expansion. Chief Justice John Roberts issued a brief order granting the court time to evaluate the administration's appeal against a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The preservation group argues the project causes irreversible damage to the executive mansion's historical architecture.

While the justices noted the administration has a strong likelihood of prevailing, the court emphasized that the ruling does not constitute a final judgment on the lawsuit's merits. With construction authorized to restart, the building's structural shell could be completed before lower courts reach a final verdict.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.