Historic preservation group sues to block construction of White House ballroom already underway

The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, a nonprofit corporation that was chartered by Congress in 1949, filed the lawsuit on Friday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia against Trump, the National Park Service (NPS), NPS Acting Director Jessica Bowron, White House and President’s Park Superintendent John Stanwich, the Department of the Interior, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, The General Services Administration (GSA), and GSA Acting Administrator Michael Rigas.

The National Trust claimed that the administration demolished the old East Wing "without seeking approval from Congress; without requesting review and approval from the federal commissions charged with oversight of development in the nation’s capital; without conducting the required environmental studies; and without allowing the public any opportunity for input. Within days, the East Wing and its colonnade—a version of which was first built on the site during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson—were completely destroyed."

"No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever—not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else. And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in. President Trump’s efforts to do so should be immediately halted, and work on the Ballroom Project should be paused until the Defendants complete the required reviews—reviews that should have taken place before the Defendants demolished the East Wing, and before they began construction of the Ballroom—and secure the necessary approvals," the lawsuit added.

The National Trust wrote that the defendants were required to submit their plans to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the Commission of Fine Arts, and Congress for review before demolition work began, and needed approval from the NCPC and Congress. "Yet it appears that site preparation and preliminary construction of the proposed new Ballroom is proceeding without any review by either commission or by Congress, and without the necessary approvals."

With the demolition of the East Wing, the National Trust wrote that the defendants have not provided any information on environmental reviews or safety precautions taken. "Insofar as the Defendants have conducted an environmental assessment under NEPA, they have failed to publish that assessment, despite being required by statute to publish it, see 42 U.S.C. § 4336(b)(2). Nor, on information and belief, have the Defendants prepared an environmental impact statement, despite the potential environmental impacts from the demolition of a building as old as the East Wing, its replacement by a structure of the magnitude of the Ballroom, and the transport of debris that is substantially likely to be contaminated to be dumped in a public park."

The National Trust wrote, "Despite having failed to obtain (or even request) review and approval of their plans for the Ballroom Project, the Defendants have begun construction at the site of the East Wing. The White House’s website announces that 'construction commence[d]’ in 'September 2025' and invites the reader 'to check back here for completed phases of renovation.’"

The filing stated that Trump has been "telling people working on the project that they did not need to follow permitting, zoning, or code requirements because the structure was on White House grounds."

The lawsuit claims violations of the Administrative Procedure Act for "Failure to Advise and Consult with the NCPC and to Obtain NCPC Approval," "Improper Segmentation of NCPC Review," "Failure to Request Advice from Commission of Fine Arts," "Inadequate Environmental Assessment," "Failure to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement," "Improper Segmentation of NEPA Review," and violations of the Separation of Powers.

The trust is seeking a declaration that the work on the ballroom project violates the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The trust also seeks to bar any further work from taking place until an environmental impact statements has been published, the NCPC and CFA have reviewed plans, the NCPA has approved plans, Congress has authorized the plans, and the public has had time to comment.

National Trust v Trump Admin by Hannah Nightingale