Chief Justice John Roberts issues administrative stay to allow White House ballroom construction to continue.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary administrative stay on Friday, allowing construction on a new 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom to proceed. The order keeps a previous ruling by Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Leon that would have halted above-ground work on hold. This move allows the administration to continue the project, which is currently 65% complete, while the Supreme Court considers the final request to pause construction. The administration argued that the ballroom is a vital national security requirement and that it possesses the authority to make improvements to the White House. In contrast, the National Trust for Historic Preservation argued that the administration was attempting to outrun judicial review by fast-tracking the project. The stay ensures that the 250-person crew can continue working 20 hours a day to keep the project ahead of schedule and under budget.