(AFP) – US President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom received final planning approval on Thursday, but construction remains in limbo following a judicial order handed down earlier this week. The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), which has several presidential appointees on its board, greenlit plans in an 8-1 vote. The scheme aims to construct a massive ballroom on the site of the White House’s East Wing — previously best known for housing the First Lady’s offices. It was demolished in September.
Planning approval does not, however, mean construction can go ahead unchecked. On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered a halt to construction citing a need for congressional approval. The president is “steward” of the White House, Judge Richard Leon wrote. “He is not, however, the owner!”
Will Scharf, the commission’s chairman and a political ally of Trump, addressed the lawsuit before the vote, saying, “That order really does not impact our action here today. From my perspective, we have a project before us. We’ve been asked to review it, and that’s really our job here today.” He noted that Judge Leon had placed a two-week delay on his stop-work order to allow the Trump Administration to appeal.
The ballroom has become a passion project for Trump during his second term, and the president often discusses the plan in public appearances, press conferences, and meetings. Trump has repeatedly said that a large ballroom is needed to host, among other key events, state dinners for visiting dignitaries. He has promised to meet the costs — estimated to be upwards of $400 million — with private donations, not taxpayer money.
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