Construction on President Donald Trump's East Wing ballroom can continue for now, following an order from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday. Roberts stayed a lower court injunction that had threatened to halt the project just hours before it was set to take effect.
The order, issued by Roberts alone, is not a final decision but will remain in place "pending further order" from the full court. This latest development allows construction to proceed despite previous adverse rulings in lower courts.
Earlier in the month, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court decision finding that Trump had overstepped his authority by pursuing the ballroom project without congressional approval. Trump has defended the project on national security grounds, referring to it as a "Military Complex" and labeling opponents as "TREASONISTS."
Both the appeals court decision and the original district court ruling had been temporarily paused to allow for the appeals process. That pause was set to expire Friday, but Roberts's intervention extended it.
The project has advanced rapidly. According to Trump's solicitor general, the ballroom was approximately 65 percent complete last week. It stands about 70 feet tall with five stories below ground. Crews have been working on the project for nearly 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Supreme Court's eventual full review of the case could have implications beyond the ballroom itself. The ability of plaintiffs to challenge the project hinges on the "aesthetic injury" theory of standing, a legal concept also fundamental to much of U.S. environmental law. A ruling in favor of the ballroom could potentially impact these environmental protections.