Halting work on President Trump’s proposed White House ballroom could raise “serious” national security issues, the Secret Service warned in court documents related to a lawsuit aimed at blocking the project.
Matthew Quinn, Deputy Director of the Secret Service, indicated that while most of the “temporary security measures” for the ballroom are in place, there remains unfinished work that’s critical.
In a filing on Monday, Quinn expressed that any pause in construction, even a brief one, would prevent contractors from fulfilling their obligations, potentially hindering the Secret Service’s ability to carry out its protective duties.
Quinn stated he could provide additional classified details during a briefing regarding the national security risks associated with halting the ballroom project, particularly in light of two assassination attempts on President Trump, but chose not to go into more detail publicly.
The newspaper reached out to the Secret Service for further clarification.
The ominous note was aimed at countering a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit that advocates for the protection of historic American buildings.
The National Trust filed suit against the Trump administration last Friday, seeking an injunction to stop the ballroom construction, claiming the president cannot unilaterally alter parts of the White House without public input.
In light of the ongoing legal dispute, the government emphasized that plans for the banquet hall are “not final” and asserted that there would be “no material impact” on the surrounding area.
Trump’s team expressed intentions to engage with relevant agencies involved in the sprawling 90,000-square-foot project, including the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission on Fine Arts.
They stated that approvals would be pursued “before any ground-level construction occurs,” with groundbreaking not anticipated until at least April.
The National Trust also raised concerns about environmental factors not considered during the demolition of the East Tower, which is over 120 years old, suggesting it may have contained hazardous materials like asbestos and lead paint.
“Moreover, debris from the East Tower is being disposed of in a public park without any clear planning or regard for potential risks,” the lawsuit claimed.
Additionally, the National Trust noted that the ballroom project would mark the most significant alteration to the executive residence in the last 80 years.
President Trump has been advocating for a White House ballroom for more than a decade, even offering to fund it during the Obama administration.
Plans for the ballroom were unveiled in July, initially estimated at $200 million, though costs have since risen to $300 million, funded privately.
Demolition of the east wing, which historically served as the first lady’s space, took place in October.
