Historic Preservation Group sues Trump Administration over White House Ballroom

WASHINGTON D.C. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The nation’s top historic preservation group is suing the Trump administration in an effort to block construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed new White House ballroom.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a congressionally chartered nonprofit organization tasked with preserving historic buildings, filed the lawsuit seeking to halt the project until required review boards have the opportunity to weigh in. The group says it previously sent a letter urging the administration to pause construction, but that request was ignored.

According to the lawsuit, the National Trust alleges the ballroom construction project is unlawful and has moved forward without complying with established federal review processes. Those processes include oversight by historic preservation review boards and a public comment period.

The organization is asking a federal court to stop all further construction activity until the administration follows the required review procedures. The proposed ballroom would be a large addition to the White House complex, raising concerns among preservation advocates about its impact on the historic site.