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National Trust Defies DOJ, Keeps Suit to Block Trump Ballroom

4/28/2026

38 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

National Trust for Historic Preservation refused DOJ pressure to drop its lawsuit after the dinner shooting.
The trust continues suing to block President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche warned the trust to dismiss the suit by 9:00 a.m. Monday as frivolous.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Randy Fine, and Senator John Fetterman each advocated funding or event use of the ballroom.

History

Historical Context

The modern preservation framework began with the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act, signed by Lyndon B. Johnson, and the 1949 creation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Since then the Trust has protected more than 1,200 sites, including the White House, whose ballroom renovation cost $400 million. The Trust now fights Todd Blanche’s order to drop its lawsuit over the ballroom’s commercial use.

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Story summary

National Trust for Historic Preservation refused DOJ pressure to drop its lawsuit after the dinner shooting.
The trust continues suing to block President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche warned the trust to dismiss the suit by 9:00 a.m. Monday as frivolous.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Randy Fine, and Senator John Fetterman each advocated funding or event use of the ballroom.

1 / 2