Trump Administration Leverages White House Shooting to Force Dismissal of Ballroom Lawsuit

Trump Administration Leverages White House Shooting to Force Dismissal of Ballroom Lawsuit

The Justice Department is attempting to compel preservation advocates to withdraw legal challenges against a $400 million ballroom project by citing security concerns raised by a shooting incident at a high-profile event.

The pressure campaign centers on a $400 million ballroom planned for the site of the White House's former East Wing. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Sunday via social media that the National Trust for Historic Preservation—the organization leading the legal fight against the construction—has until 9 a.m. Monday to drop its lawsuit.

Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate's letter, posted by Blanche, references Saturday's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner as justification for the ultimatum. According to Shumate, if the preservation group does not comply, the government intends to petition the court to dismiss the case "in light of last night's extraordinary events."

The administration argues that the Washington Hilton, which hosted Saturday's gala, is "demonstrably unsafe" for presidential events due to "extraordinary security challenges for the Secret Service" stemming from its size. Shumate contends that the new White House ballroom "will ensure the safety and security of the President for decades to come and prevent future assassination attempts on the President at the Washington Hilton."

Elliot Carter, spokesperson for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, stated Sunday that the organization would review the letter in consultation with its legal team.

Background on the dispute: The preservation group filed suit in December, approximately one week after the White House demolished the East Wing to clear space for the proposed ballroom, designed to accommodate 999 guests. While Trump has stated the project is funded through private donations, taxpayers are financing bunker construction and security enhancements associated with the development.