DOJ Urges National Trust to Drop Lawsuit Blocking White House Ballroom Construction

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice on Sunday, April 27, 2026, called on the National Trust for Historic Preservation to voluntarily dismiss its lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom expansion, citing the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner as evidence that the project is urgently needed for presidential security.

In a letter posted on X by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate told lawyers for the National Trust that the lawsuit “puts the lives of the President, his family, and his staff at grave risk.” Shumate gave the group until 9 a.m. Monday to drop the case or face a formal motion to dissolve the existing injunction and dismiss the lawsuit outright. “It’s time to build the ballroom,” Blanche stated plainly.

The letter explicitly referenced Saturday night’s incident at the Washington Hilton, where a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint, forcing the evacuation of President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and senior officials. The DOJ argued that the proposed neoclassical ballroom and associated underground security facilities on the former East Wing site would provide a far safer venue for large official events than external locations like the Hilton.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation immediately rejected the request. In a statement Monday, the group called the DOJ’s pressure “irresponsible” and said it would continue pursuing the lawsuit, which contends that major alterations to the White House require explicit congressional approval under longstanding federal law.

Construction of the privately funded ballroom has been the subject of intense litigation since early 2026. A federal district judge initially blocked above-ground work, citing procedural requirements. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has twice issued temporary stays allowing construction to proceed while the case is litigated. The project includes enhanced national security features such as a presidential bunker.

The DOJ’s latest move comes amid heightened concerns over presidential security following the attempted attack at the Correspondents’ Dinner. No decision on the DOJ’s threatened motion has been issued yet.

The National Trust maintains that historic preservation laws must be followed regardless of recent events. The Trump administration has consistently argued that the lawsuit is frivolous and that delaying the project endangers the president and his staff. Construction continues on below-ground portions under prior appeals court stays.