The Daily Fuckup

A White House ballroom case that began as a preservation fight is now also a dispute over what counts as security work at the White House. On April 11, a federal appeals court sent the case back to the trial judge for more explanation about how his injunction affects safety-related construction, while extending the stay of that order through April 17.

That ruling followed a March 31 decision by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon that barred further ballroom construction without congressional approval. Leon put his order on hold for 14 days, and the appeals court added three more days so the administration could decide whether to ask the Supreme Court to intervene. The practical result is that the case is still alive, and the work is not frozen by the appellate ruling.

The government has argued that stopping the project could create security problems for the president, his family and White House staff. Leon’s order had already carved out an exception for construction needed to protect the White House’s safety and security. The appeals court said it needed a clearer record on how that exception applies to specific work tied to the project, including below-ground upgrades.

The fight now sits on two tracks at once: a broader challenge to whether the ballroom can move forward without the usual approvals, and a narrower question about security-related construction that the government says cannot be neatly separated from the rest of the project. For now, the appellate ruling means the dispute is not over and the construction window remains open at least through April 17 while the legal fight keeps moving.