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Justice Dept Threatens Trust Over Ballroom Lawsuit After Shooting

4/27/2026

27 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Justice Department used the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting to pressure the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its ballroom lawsuit.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a Monday letter demanding dismissal by 9 a.m. and warning the department would seek to dissolve the injunction.
The National Trust refused to withdraw, so construction of the $400 million ballroom will continue through June 5.

History

Historical Context

In 1978 the Supreme Court ruled in Penn Central Transportation Co. v. New York City that the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission’s restrictions on Grand Central Terminal did not amount to a regulatory taking, creating the modern test for compensation claims. The decision anchored federal-local historic-preservation conflicts and now guides courts when federal agencies challenge preservation ordinances.

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Story summary

The Justice Department used the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting to pressure the National Trust for Historic Preservation to drop its ballroom lawsuit.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a Monday letter demanding dismissal by 9 a.m. and warning the department would seek to dissolve the injunction.
The National Trust refused to withdraw, so construction of the $400 million ballroom will continue through June 5.

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