"The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion earlier this week to block any future order from a federal judge that could imperil President Donald Trump's plan to build a massive ballroom on White House grounds, claiming that the construction of the ballroom is a matter of "national security." Last week, Judge Richard Leon expressed disbelief over the government's initial argument in favor of the project resuming - that a privately funded rebuilding of the White House was proper without congressional authorization."
"A new brief filed late on Monday seeks to preempt any judgment from Leon, stating that the $400 million project is imperative for the country's security. "Given the exigencies involved in suspending a major ongoing construction project with national security implications, Defendants are filing this motion in advance of any ruling," the filing stated, adding that it is "unworkable to distinguish between construction elements that are national security-related and those that are not.""
The Department of Justice moved to block any court order that could halt demolition of the East Wing and construction of a $400 million White House ballroom, characterizing the work as implicating national security. The filing argued that suspending the project would imperil the President and others who live and work in the White House and that distinguishing security-related construction elements from others is unworkable. A federal judge expressed skepticism about comparing the project to small recreational projects and noted questions about proceeding without congressional authorization. Donor lists for the privately funded project include Wall Street and cryptocurrency firms with potential interests in the president's agenda.
Read at Truthout
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]