Supreme Court Grants 5–4 Stay for White House Ballroom Construction

The U.S. Supreme Court granted the government’s request to pause an injunction that restricted construction of a new White House East Wing and ballroom while the government seeks review. The unsigned 5–4 opinion said the government was likely to show that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks Article III standing, would suffer irreparable harm, and had the balance of equities in its favor. The Court said it was not deciding the project’s legality. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, arguing the construction was likely unlawful because federal law requires express congressional authority.