Washington (US), 7 Aug. (LaPresse) – A panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that Donald Trump must halt above-ground construction of the new White House Ballroom, stating that the president exceeded his powers in attempting to carry out the extension, which is being funded by $400 million in private donations. In a majority decision, the three-judge panel upheld a ruling handed down in April by a federal judge, which stated that most of the construction work on the ballroom must be halted until Congress has expressly authorised the project. “Every President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence,” wrote Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia in the majority opinion, according to the Washington Post. The judges also suspended the effect of their decision for 14 days to allow the White House to appeal to the Supreme Court. The judges also ruled that Trump is permitted to continue underground work on the building, as well as work relating to national security.
US: Federal court halts work on new White House ballroom
Washington (US), 7 Aug. (LaPresse) – A panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has ruled that Donald Trump must halt above-ground construction of the new White House Ballroom, stating that the president exceeded his powers in attempting to carry out the extension, which is being funded by $400 million in private donations. In a majority decision, the three-judge panel upheld a ruling handed down in April by a federal judge, which stated that most of the construction work on the ballroom must be halted until Congress has expressly authorised the project. “Every President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence,” wrote Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia in the majority opinion, according to the Washington Post. The judges also suspended the effect of their decision for 14 days to allow the White House to appeal to the Supreme Court. The judges also ruled that Trump is permitted to continue underground work on the building, as well as work relating to national security.