US Supreme Court permits temporary resumption of White House ballroom construction

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily cleared the way for construction to continue on President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom.

In a decision issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, a five-justice conservative majority paused a lower court's injunction against the project. The justices indicated that the administration is likely to prevail in an ongoing lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which seeks to halt the expansion over concerns regarding historic integrity.

Although the interim order permits construction crews to proceed while legal proceedings continue, the Supreme Court emphasized that its ruling does not represent a final determination on the legal merits of the dispute. The interim measure gives the court additional time to weigh the federal government's emergency appeal.

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