The Trump administration is using two recent armed incidents near the White House to justify completing a controversial ballroom project that a federal judge ordered halted in March, despite soaring costs that have jumped from $200 million to over $1 billion in less than six months.
Second Security Incident Triggers Renewed Push
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche filed urgent court papers on Sunday following a shooting at a White House security checkpoint last Saturday. A 21-year-old suspect pulled a gun and opened fire, injuring one bystander before Secret Service agents killed him in an exchange of gunfire. Reporters on the White House lawn ran for safety as shots rang out across the grounds.
Blanche argued the shooting represented the second threat to President Trump’s life within a month. On April 25, a 31-year-old man attempted to breach security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner where Trump attended. Security took him into custody after gunfire. Blanche called the ballroom essential for ensuring Trump can perform constitutional duties in a safe, secure facility with state-of-the-art security features.
Judge’s Order Blocks Construction Progress
Federal Judge Richard Leon issued a temporary injunction against ballroom construction on March 31. While Leon allowed work necessary for White House safety and security to continue, he rejected what he termed bald assertions of national security as justification to bypass his ruling. The judge ordered the Trump administration to seek Congressional approval before resuming construction.
Trump has requested additional funding from Congress for the ballroom but has not sought approval for construction itself. Last week, Senate Republicans dropped a provision that would have added $1 billion in ballroom funding to an immigration enforcement bill. Some Republicans objected to the expense, while others noted the unrelated spending would disqualify the bill from budget reconciliation rules requiring only a simple majority for passage.
Costs Balloon Beyond Original Private Funding Plan
Trump initially promised the ballroom would be funded entirely through private donations. Last year, he estimated construction costs at $200 million. By December, that figure doubled to $400 million. The latest request for $1 billion in taxpayer funds reportedly covers security improvements. Despite the escalating price tag, Trump maintained during a May 19 construction site tour that the project remains financially viable, though Republicans increasingly question the expense as costs spiral upward.