The Donald Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to continue construction on a banquet hall being pursued at the White House East Wing.
According to Reuters and The Washington Post (WP) on the 14th, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to stay the effectiveness of an appellate court ruling that ordered the banquet hall construction halted while it appeals the decision.
In its request, the U.S. Department of Justice argued that if construction is halted, it could threaten not only national security but also the safety of President Trump, his family, and administration staff, and asked that building work be allowed to continue while the lawsuit proceeds.
It specifically cited past assassination attempts targeting President Trump and stressed that the project is "absolutely necessary for national security."
The Department of Justice also said, "As of today, construction is 65% complete and is moving quickly toward completion."
Earlier, on the 7th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of the National Trust, a cultural heritage preservation group, in its lawsuit seeking to halt the banquet hall construction against the Trump administration.
The appeals court upheld the district court's decision that construction cannot continue without congressional approval and ordered the administration to stop aboveground work until it secures Congress' approval. The decision takes effect on the 21st.
To build a banquet hall that can accommodate 1,000 people at the White House, the Trump administration demolished the East Wing and began construction in Oct. last year.
The administration says the project includes not only a banquet hall for large-scale events but also national security facilities such as a bomb shelter and drone defense systems.
After the appeals court ruling, President Trump strongly criticized it as a "political ruling," saying, "This complex is being built to protect our country and future presidents."