Chris Geidner
‪@chrisgeidner.bsky.social‬

NEW: Judge Leon reaffirms his order blocking ballroom construction.

"Defendants now seek to tum this exception on its head and unreasonably insist that the entire ballroom project may proceed. Based on the record before me, I cannot possibly agree ...."

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.72.0_4.pdf

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
Plaintiff,
Civil Case No. 25-4316 (RJL)
V.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, et al.,
Defendants.
)
)
MEMORANDUM OPINION
April 16 * 2026 [Dkt. #65, 71]
On March 31, 2026, I granted the motion of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States ("National Trust') for a preliminary injunction to halt
construction of a ballroom on White House grounds as ultra vires. In recognition of the
national security and presidential security concerns raised by the ongoing construction
project, I excluded from the scope of the injunction "actions strictly necessary to ensure
the safety and security of the White House and its grounds, including the ballroom
construction site, and provide for the personal safety of the President and his staff."
Defendants now seek to turn this exception on its head and unreasonably insist that the
entire ballroom project may proceed. Based on the record before me, I cannot possibly
agree, but I will clarify the scope of the injunction as described below.
ALT
1:17 PM · Apr 16, 2026

Chris Geidner
‪@chrisgeidner.bsky.social‬

Update: DOJ has already filed its notice of appeal.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.74.0.pdf

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 1:25-cv-04316-RJL
V.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, et al.,
Defendants.
NOTICE OF APPEAL
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Defendants hereby appeal to the United States Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from this Court's Order entered at ECF No. 73.
ALT
3:27 PM · Apr 16, 2026