DOJ Moves to Deny Injunction Against White House Ballroom Construction

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion aimed at denying an injunction that seeks to block the construction of the White House Ballroom.

According to court documents shared by President Donald Trump on Truth Social, legal representatives from the DOJ, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, requested that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia deny the injunction, especially following the recent shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“This attack confirms that this court’s injunction is unacceptable and unsustainable as a matter of fairness and law,” the Justice Department stated.

Shortly after the shooting, officials reiterated that such an event could have been prevented if the secure facility had been operational.

In regard to the comprehensive security measures necessary for constructing the ballroom on White House grounds, the filing emphasized that an attack like the recent one would not have been feasible with the new structure in place.

“Such a facility would have prevented an attack like the one in Washington, D.C., last Saturday night during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, when attempted assassins armed with shotguns, pistols, and knives stormed through the security checkpoint of the Washington Hilton,” the DOJ explained.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had modified the injunction on April 16, stating that while construction on the ballroom was halted, work on the underground bunker and related projects could continue.

However, the DOJ argued that the two phases of construction are inherently linked.

“The lower part of a building cannot function without the upper part. Similarly, the upper part of a building cannot function without the lower part,” the department asserted.

Matthew Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, also provided a statement emphasizing the security difficulties of hosting large events in temporary structures on the White House grounds or off-site locations.

“In contrast, the White House complex is a controlled facility with a permanent security infrastructure designed in close collaboration with the Secret Service,” he remarked.

The DOJ noted that the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which initiated the lawsuit, remains unyielding despite this recent assassination attempt. The department criticized the organization, which has not received federal funding since 2005, claiming it filed the lawsuit out of “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Even if no incidents occur during a presidential event, Quinn pointed out that a security threat could still disrupt the event and hinder the president’s responsibilities.

While building the White House ballroom may take a while, the DOJ stressed its importance for all future presidents.

“As outlined by the defendants, and as painfully confirmed this weekend, all current and future presidents need safe large-scale event venues now,” the department said.