The Justice Department escalated pressure on a historic preservation group Sunday, demanding they abandon their legal challenge to President Trump's White House ballroom project in the wake of a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche posted a letter on social media calling the lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation “frivolous” and insisting it be dropped by Monday morning. “If your client does not dismiss the lawsuit by 9:00 AM on Monday, the government will move to dissolve the injunction and dismiss the case in light of last night’s extraordinary events,” the letter stated.
The incident Saturday night at the Washington Hilton prompted the evacuation of Trump and other high-profile officials from the annual gala. A gunman exchanged fire with law enforcement outside the venue, a scene that Trump seized on to argue the urgent need for a more secure White House ballroom.
“I didn’t want to say this but this is why we have to have all of the attributes of what we’re planning at the White House. It’s actually a larger room, and it’s much more secure,” Trump told reporters after the shooting, which also forced the evacuation of the president and top aides. The president has touted the project as essential for hosting military events, claiming it will be “drone proof” and feature “bulletproof glass.”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its lawsuit in December, seeking an injunction to halt construction and ensure public input on the project. In late March, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon paused construction, ruling that no statute “comes close” to granting the president the authority he claimed. Leon later allowed only “below-ground construction” to proceed, rejecting administration arguments that security concerns required the full project. A federal appeals panel subsequently permitted construction to continue into June.
Trump’s allies in Congress quickly rallied behind the ballroom project after the shooting. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) announced she is drafting legislation to ensure its completion, writing on social media, “I don’t believe congressional approval is required for the project, but if it’ll keep activist judges on the sideline, so be it.” Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) introduced the “Build the Ballroom Act,” calling the project a “privately-funded gift to the country.” Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) also pledged to introduce a companion bill, arguing it is “an embarrassment to the strongest nation on earth that we cannot host gatherings in our nation’s capital” without violence threats.
The Hill has contacted a lawyer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation for comment. The group has not indicated whether it will comply with the DOJ’s ultimatum.
This development comes amid broader debates over political violence and security. Rep. Ro Khanna has called for a bipartisan panel on political violence following the attack, while the suspect's manifesto revealed specific targets including Trump and officials. The WHCA president has praised the security response during the chaotic evening.
