Story perspectives

AG Orders Trust to Drop White House Ballroom Lawsuit

4/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered the National Trust for Historic Preservation to dismiss its lawsuit over President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom by 9 a.m. Monday.
Trust lawyer Gregory Craig said the suit does not threaten the president’s safety and will not be dropped.
A federal judge barred construction of the ballroom, limiting work to below-ground facilities.
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals kept appeal open, setting a hearing for June 5.

History

Historical Context

Local historic-preservation began with Charleston’s 1931 Old and Historic District and spread to New Orleans (1937) and Philadelphia (1955). After the 1965 demolition of Penn Station, New York created the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which the 1978 Supreme Court in Penn Central v. New York upheld. Today the city protects over 37,800 landmarks, illustrating the long-standing legal tension between development and preservation.

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Story summary

Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered the National Trust for Historic Preservation to dismiss its lawsuit over President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom by 9 a.m. Monday.
Trust lawyer Gregory Craig said the suit does not threaten the president’s safety and will not be dropped.
A federal judge barred construction of the ballroom, limiting work to below-ground facilities.
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals kept appeal open, setting a hearing for June 5.

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