Federal judge appears skeptical of DOJ's argument for White House ballroom construction
Source: NBC News
Jan. 22, 2026, 7:04 PM EST
WASHINGTON — A federal judge appears to be leaning toward hitting the pause button on the White House ballroom's construction.
While U.S. District Judge Richard Leon did not rule from the bench Thursday, promising a decision next month, his comments during arguments left little doubt about what way he was leaning.
Attorney Thad Heuer, representing the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation, a group that works to protect U.S. historic sites, argued that the president does not have the constitutional authority to tear down the East Wing of the White House and construct a ballroom.
“He’s not the owner” of the White House, Heuer said. Leon appeared to agree, saying, “He’s the steward.”
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/federal-judge-appears-skeptical-dojs-argument-white-house-ballroom-con-rcna255496
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all you need is one drop of rain on the Beltway (I-495) and everything slows to a stop. And since they forced them all back in the office, purportedly with no more telework, it will be interesting to see how they handle next week's work schedule.
With the remote work option in the past, the government (in D.C. metro) began a routine of "staying open" during major weather events because non-essential (mostly white collar feds) just worked from home.
Now... who knows? 
