NEW: Group Sues Trump Admin In Bid To Stop Ballroom Construction

A major historic preservation group is suing the Trump administration in an effort to immediately halt construction of a massive new White House ballroom, arguing that President Donald Trump unlawfully ordered the demolition of the East Wing without required approvals, environmental reviews, or public input.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Washington, D.C., was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization chartered by Congress. The group is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to stop further construction and force the administration to comply with federal review laws before moving forward with the project.

According to the complaint, the Trump administration demolished the White House’s East Wing in late October to make way for a roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom designed to host up to 1,000 guests. The lawsuit claims the demolition and construction began without authorization from Congress, without review by key federal planning and design commissions, and without any environmental assessment required under federal law.

“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever,” the complaint states, arguing that the administration bypassed long-standing safeguards that apply to development in the nation’s capital.

The National Trust alleges that the administration failed to consult the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, both of which are legally required to review major construction projects affecting federal buildings in Washington, D.C. The group also contends that Congress must expressly authorize any new structure built on federal land, including the White House grounds.

The East Wing, first constructed in the early 20th century and expanded during World War II, housed offices for the First Lady, a historic theater, and access to the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, which the lawsuit says was also demolished. The complaint argues that the East Wing and surrounding grounds were integral to the White House’s historic design and symbolism.

The lawsuit further claims that no environmental review was conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act, despite the scope of the demolition and construction, which included heavy machinery, pile drivers, and the disposal of debris at a nearby public park. The group says the lack of transparency deprived the public of its right to comment on changes to what it describes as “perhaps the most recognizable and historically significant building in the country.”

President Trump has defended the project publicly, calling the East Wing a small, outdated structure and describing the ballroom as a “big, beautiful” addition that would allow the White House to host larger events. The administration has also argued that approval is only required for vertical construction, not demolition, a position the preservation group strongly disputes.

The lawsuit names multiple defendants, including the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior, the General Services Administration, and President Trump in his official capacity. It asks the court to immediately halt construction until all legally required reviews are completed and Congress authorizes the project.

If successful, the case could force a significant pause or redesign of the ballroom project and set limits on how far a president can go in altering the White House without congressional and public oversight.

The White House has not yet formally responded to the lawsuit.