US Supreme Court permits White House ballroom construction to proceed

The United States Supreme Court has temporarily permitted construction to continue on President Donald Trump's $400 million White House ballroom expansion project.

In a 5–4 decision, the court's conservative majority paused a lower court injunction that had previously halted work on the site. The justices stated that the administration demonstrated a strong likelihood of prevailing against a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which alleges that the project violates federal historic preservation laws.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the brief order, providing the court additional time to consider the administration's appeal. The Supreme Court emphasized that its interim ruling does not constitute a final judgment on the legal merits of the case. However, the decision allows structural work to advance, potentially enabling the building's shell to be completed before full legal proceedings conclude.

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