Overview
- The White House asked the D.C. Circuit on Thursday to freeze a March 31 injunction, seeking permission to keep building a new 90,000‑square‑foot East Wing ballroom.
- The administration said stopping work would endanger the president and staff and it listed planned defenses such as missile‑resistant steel, drone‑proof roofing, blast‑proof glass, bomb shelters, and a medical area.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation told the court that security claims are overstated and that underground bunker work can continue under the current order.
- U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon halted above‑ground construction on March 31, found the trust likely to win on the law, and allowed only work strictly needed for White House safety.
- The administration asked for a ruling by Friday and said it will seek Supreme Court review if the appeals court does not allow construction to proceed.