Approval of Trump’s Ballroom Project Despite Legal Challenges
A key review board voted on Thursday to approve President Donald Trump’s ballroom project, despite the ongoing legal issues surrounding its construction. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), one of two review boards overseeing the project, gave near-unanimous approval during its meeting.
Only one member of the NCPC, Democratic D.C. City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, voted against the proposal. He argued that the ballroom was “just too large.” Two other commissioners chose to vote “present.”
Trump responded to the news on Thursday night by posting a picture of himself standing next to the construction site on Truth Social.
Defending the Ballroom and the Approval Process
During the meeting, NCPC Chair Will Scharf, who also serves as President Donald Trump’s Staff Secretary, defended both the need for the ballroom and the process used to approve it. Scharf read several critical reviews from major publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post. He then referenced past White House projects, including President Teddy Roosevelt’s construction of the West Wing and President Richard Nixon’s build-out of the briefing room.
“Sky’s fallen pronouncements from so-called historic preservationists and their allies in the press are therefore nothing new to the history of the White House,” Scharf said.
He added, “I believe that in time, this ballroom will be considered every bit as much of a national treasure as the other key components of the White House.”
Concerns Over the Process and Size
Mendelson urged the group to slow down the vote, arguing that the process was too rushed. While he wasn’t opposed to building a ballroom, he felt the size was excessive. Linda Argo, an appointee of Washington, D.C.’s Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser, agreed with Mendelson’s comments.
Mendelson was the only member to vote no, while Argo and Arrington Dixon, also appointed by Bowser, voted present.
Legal Jeopardy for the Ballroom Project
The vote comes as the ballroom is already facing legal challenges. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that the construction needed to be halted within two weeks. He sided with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had argued that Trump needed Congressional approval for the project.
In his decision, Leon stated that the Trust would likely win in court, as no statute gives the President authority to make such major changes to the White House.
“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!” Leon wrote.
Leon allowed only construction related to the security of the White House to continue. He also noted that Congress could authorize the continued construction of the ballroom project.
Trump’s Response and Potential Legal Challenges
Despite the ruling, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he had no plans to bring the project before Congress. Public Citizen’s Jon Golinger, who led a small protest in front of the NCPC on Thursday, suggested more lawsuits could be filed to stall the project.
Golinger, who had a disagreement with Scharf at a previous meeting over his credentials to lead the planning group, argued that the issue remained unresolved. He claimed that Scharf and other White House staffers, James Blair and Stuart Levenbach, didn’t have the necessary experience for their roles.
Trump had filled both the NCPC and the Commission of Fine Arts with aides and allies ahead of the October demolition of the East Wing. Golinger argued that if the three members voted in favor of the project, it could make the project legally vulnerable to challenge.
All three voted in favor.
Updated Designs and Legal Concerns
Trump shared new designs for the ballroom, which showed that the controversial “stairs to nowhere” had been removed, with reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday night. Golinger argued that this could create legal problems, as it suggests the design isn’t fully finalized.
“They didn’t present this new project with a legitimate, legally required notice for this meeting today. So I also would suggest that if they vote to approve a project that wasn’t actually calendared today, they’re putting themselves in legal jeopardy,” Golinger said.
Scharf provided legal cover by having the NCPC vote on the amended design plans before the final approval vote. All NCPC members approved the project, with Mendelson voting present.
