Chief Justice temporarily halts lower court order blocking White House ballroom work

Chief Justice John Roberts has allowed construction on a White House ballroom to continue, at least for now. He issued a temporary order on August 21 that blocked a lower court's deadline to stop above-ground building work. A federal judge had ruled that only underground work, such as bomb shelters, could go ahead without Congress approving the project first. The Trump administration appealed that ruling and argued the ballroom is important for security and for hosting senior officials. The project costs around $400 million and has been challenged by a historic preservation group. The Supreme Court will now decide whether the executive branch needs congressional approval before major construction at the White House can proceed.