A federal judge hit pause on President Trump’s plans to build a new ballroom on the site of the old White House East Wing, saying he acted rashly in moving ahead without Congress and must go to Capitol Hill for permission before continuing any work.
Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee to the court in Washington, had previously allowed below-grade work to continue for safety and security reasons. But in his new ruling, he said he’s concluded the president didn’t have the power to unilaterally demolish a part of the White House complex, then build a new structure on his own say-so.
“The president of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” the judge said.
He acknowledged “novel and weighty issues” in the case, and said halting a project already underway may be tricky.
He exempted safety and security projects from his injunction.
And he put his ruling on hold for 14 days to allow for the government to appeal.
