The Trump administration has filed an emergency motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to resume construction of a ballroom at the White House, citing security risks posed by a halt in work. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon previously ordered a pause on the $400 million project, which is intended to replace the recently demolished East Wing. The administration contends that the judge's ruling exposes the executive mansion to grave national-security threats. The lawsuit against the construction was initiated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues that the project requires Congressional approval and that Trump exceeded his authority by demolishing the historic East Wing. The administration's motion claims the lawsuit is legally baseless and that the President has the constitutional authority to renovate the White House. This ballroom is part of Trump’s broader vision to reshape Washington's monumental landscape, which includes plans for a 250-foot (76-meter) arch and modifications to the Kennedy Center.