A nonprofit organization tasked by the US Congress with helping to preserve historic sites has sued the White House to stop the construction of President Donald Trump's new ballroom.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit arguing that the White House failed to seek necessary reviews before demolishing the historic East Wing in October.
"No president is legally allowed to demolish parts of the White House without any kind of review — not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, and no one else," the lawsuit states.
The White House has called the project a "much-needed and excellent addition."
It is learned that the lawsuit represents the first major legal challenge to the ballroom project.
The organization is asking a federal court in Washington to halt construction until the White House "complies with the law by going through legally mandated review processes," including a public comment period, according to a statement.
"The White House is undoubtedly the most evocative building in our country and a globally recognized symbol of our powerful American ideals," said Carol Quillen, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization created in 1949 by a congressional charter.
The group said it was "forced" to go to court after the White House ignored concerns it raised in October.
In the lawsuit, the group argues that the White House violated the law by beginning construction without submitting plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, by failing to request an environmental assessment of the project and by refusing to seek authorization from Congress.
It is also alleged that Trump is violating the US Constitution, "which reserves to Congress the right to dispose of and make all regulations respecting property belonging to the United States."
The White House said in a statement responding to the lawsuit that "President Trump has full legal authority to modernize, renovate and beautify the White House - just as all of his predecessors did."
The East Wing was reportedly demolished in October to make way for Trump's multi-million dollar ballroom, which he says is being paid for by private donors.
Since then, the proposed project has expanded from a ballroom with a capacity of 500 people to a space that can hold 1,350 guests.
The White House had previously pledged that its construction plan would be evaluated by the National Capital Planning Commission before construction began, but the lawsuit claims the site is already undergoing extensive construction. /Telegraph/
