Trump sued by preservationists seeking to halt ballroom construction

​​​​​​​By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump was sued Friday by a group of preservationists seeking to stop his construction of a White House ballroom that has already resulted in the complete demolition of the East Wing.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the suit in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, naming Trump, the National Parks Service, the Interior Department, the General Services Administration and the agencies' leaders as defendants.

“The White House is arguably the most evocative building in our country and a globally recognized symbol of our powerful American ideals. As the organization charged with protecting places where our history happened, the National Trust was compelled to file this case,” Carol Quillen, president of the group, said in a statement.

“Submitting the project to the National Capital Planning Commission for review protects the iconic historic features of the White House campus as it evolves. Inviting comments from the American people signals respect and helps ensure a lasting legacy that befits a government of the people, by the people, for the people," she added.

The suit alleges that Trump violated the National Capital Planning Act by beginning construction without first filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission, and further argues that there was not a sufficient environmental review mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act before work began.

It also alleges that Trump overstepped his constitutional powers by not first having Congress authorize the massive project.

"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," the 47-page lawsuit said.

"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," it added.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle defended the ballroom project, saying Trump "has full legal authority to modernize, renovate, and beautify the White House – just like all of his predecessors did.”