National Trust says it won't drop suit against Trump's ballroom after DOJ request

ABC NewsLiveVideoShowsShopInterest Successfully AddedWe'll notify you here with news aboutTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOnStream onNational Trust says it won't drop suit against Trump's ballroom after DOJ requestPreservationists say they will continue their lawsuit against President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroomByMEG KINNARD Associated PressApril 27, 2026, 12:30 PM2:48Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)The Associated PressWASHINGTON -- Preservationists are pressing ahead with their lawsuit against President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom, declining a request by the Department of Justice to withdraw the complaint following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday.Trump and other conservatives have made a renewed push for the ballroom in the wake of Saturday's media dinner shooting, arguing it exposed the difficulties in ensuring presidential security at large events outside the White House grounds, and urging the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its lawsuit.Top Justice officials said the government would ask a court to dismiss the lawsuit “in light of last night’s extraordinary events" if the Trust did not voluntarily drop it.Trust attorney Gregory Craig declined that request, writing to the Justice Department that the legal issues at the heart of the lawsuit are unchanged.“What Saturday’s awful event does not change is that the Constitution and multiple federal statutes require Congress to authorize construction of a ballroom on White House grounds, and that Congress has not done so," Craig wrote.A spokesperson for the Justice Department did not immediately return a message seeking comment.The preservation group sued in December, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that Trump said would fit 999 people. Trump says the project is funded by private donations, although public money is paying for a below-ground bunker and security upgrades.Popular ReadsGermany suspects Russia is behind Signal phishing that targeted top officialsApr 27, 8:31 AMNedra Talley Ross, last surviving member of 1960s pop band the Ronettes, diesApr 27, 10:13 AMResearchers say Lake Superior island's wolves are thriving as packs prey on mooseApr 27, 5:00 AMIn its lawsuit, the Trust argued that Trump had overstepped his authority by moving forward with the project without first getting approval from key federal agencies and Congress.A federal appeals court has allowed Trump to continue the project, ruling a day after a lower court judge continued to block above-ground construction on the site and scheduling a June 5 hearing to review the case. ___Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAPRelated TopicsPresident TrumpSponsored Content by TaboolaPopular ReadsGermany suspects Russia is behind Signal phishing that targeted top officialsApr 27, 8:31 AMEagles select Nigerian athlete who's never played football with final NFL Draft pickApr 27, 9:45 AMNedra Talley Ross, last surviving member of 1960s pop band the Ronettes, diesApr 27, 10:13 AMResearchers say Lake Superior island's wolves are thriving as packs prey on mooseApr 27, 5:00 AMABC News Live24/7 coverage of breaking news and live eventsABC News NetworkPrivacy PolicyYour US State Privacy…

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