DOJ Files Aggressive Trump-Tone Brief Demanding Court Undo Historic Preservation Ruling on White House Ballroom

The Department of Justice on April 28, 2026 filed a combative court brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit demanding it undo a lower court ruling that halted construction of a $400 million ballroom on White House grounds. The filing — described by legal observers as written in Trump's personal style — accused the National Trust for Historic Preservation of trying to 'weaponize historic preservation law' against the president. The Trump administration proposed the ballroom after the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting on April 25, arguing the Washington Hilton was an insecure venue. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed suit to block the project, publicly rejected the DOJ's demand that it drop the lawsuit — calling it a 'clear attempt to build without proper legal authority or public input.' The appellate court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in early June 2026. The project, which would involve demolishing the West Wing press briefing room and adjacent structures, requires Congressional approval that has not yet been sought, creating an additional legal hurdle.