Justice Department urges end to lawsuit over Trump's $400M ballroom

The Justice Department is pushing to dismiss a lawsuit that has blocked President Donald Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche cited a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner as a security concern, arguing that the Washington Hilton, where the event was held, is 'demonstrably unsafe' for events with the president. In a letter to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate warned that if the group does not drop its lawsuit, the government will ask a court to do so 'in light of last night's extraordinary events.' The National Trust for Historic Preservation had argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress. The lawsuit had blocked above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition, while allowing only below-ground work to continue on a bunker and other 'national security facilities' at the site. The project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for the bunker construction and security upgrades. The shooting has sparked a debate about security at large events, with some, including Republican Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Lindsey Graham, arguing that the White House ballroom would be a 'national security necessity' that would give the Secret Service 'immense control over the security environment.' Even some Democrats, such as Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who attended the dinner, have expressed support for the project, saying the proposed White House space should be used 'for events exactly like these.'

(Source：Headtopics)