特朗普政府周五向美国最高法院提交请愿，要求允许在白宫东翼继续进行这项耗资4亿美元的宴会厅建设项目[1]。一周前的8月7日，上诉法院裁定该项目缺乏国会批准，并下令停止地上施工工作[1]。
司法部长约翰·绍尔在诉讼中为项目辩护，宣称这项建设是白宫东翼"综合军事设施的一部分，包括完全安全的宴会厅空间"，称其"对国家安全至关重要"[1]。然而，上诉法院在其裁决中指出，"是否应该建造一个大型宴会厅是国会的决定权，而非行政部门可以自行决定的事项"[1]。
该项目计划使用100万磅钢筋和3000立方码混凝土[1]。首席大法官约翰·罗伯茨为相关方设定了周二的回应截止日期[1]。
The Trump administration filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday seeking permission to resume construction of a $400 million ballroom complex at the White House East Wing.[1] The request came after an appeals court ruled one week earlier that the project lacked congressional authorization and halted above-ground construction work.[1]
Justice Department lawyers argued that national security concerns justified the construction, with Attorney General John Sauer describing it as "an extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex, including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White House, which is vitally required by national security."[1] However, the appeals court rejected this rationale, stating that such decisions fall outside executive authority.[1] The court emphasized: "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help."[1]
The project encompasses 90,000 square feet and requires an estimated 1 million pounds of rebar and 3,000 cubic yards of concrete for completion.[1] Chief Justice John Roberts set a Tuesday deadline for responses to the administration's petition.[1]