The construction of the underground and above ground portions of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project will be allowed to continue, a US appeals court said.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia granted an administrative stay after the Trump administration appealed against US District Judge Richard Leon's decision to halt above ground construction. Construction is now expected to continue until the next hearing, which is due to take place on 5 June.
This week's rulings came after the appeals court ordered the judge to reconsider the national security implications of halting the work, after he temporarily blocked all construction of the ballroom in March.
The ruling marks a victory for the president in his effort to redesign the storied American structure. Judge Leon had previously indicated that the project required congressional approval and raised concerns about the administration's classification of the ballroom as vital for national security.
After the ruling, Trump expressed his discontent with the initial halt, stating that “no judge can be allowed to stop” the project, which includes plans for bomb shelters and medical facilities. The Justice Department had argued that the previous ruling jeopardized national security.
The East Wing of the White House, constructed in 1902, was demolished in October to accommodate the multi-million dollar ballroom, which is expected to host 1,350 guests and is funded entirely by private donors.
