The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an emergency motion in federal court to immediately dissolve an injunction blocking the construction of a high-security ballroom and command complex at the White House.
The legal filing, submitted Monday to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that a narrow escape from an assassination attempt last Saturday makes the project a matter of dire national security. The motion follows a chaotic scene at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday.
According to court documents, the assailant, identified as Cole Allen, bypassed security checkpoints armed with a shotgun, a pistol, and several knives. Secret Service agents neutralized the suspect before he reached the ballroom, but officials say the event exposed “inherent constraints” of using off-site commercial hotels for presidential events.
READ: Pentagon Press Pass Battle: Appeals Court Sides With Department Of War On Escorts
Government attorneys are asking Judge Richard J. Leon for an indicative ruling to clear the way for construction, which has been stalled by a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The defense argues that the proposed facility is an “integrated, complex unit” featuring drone-proof roofing, missile-resistant steel, and ballistic glass designed to shield the Executive Mansion.
“Saturday’s narrow miss—which marks the third assassination attempt on President Trump since 2024—confirms what should have already been obvious: Presidents need a secure space for large events,” the filing states. The document describes the project as a “fortified structural buffer” that includes a state-of-the-art hospital, military installations, and bomb shelters.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is represented by attorney Gregory Craig, has opposed the project on the grounds of historic preservation and zoning concerns. Government lawyers, however, characterized the opposition as “frivolous,” noting the lawsuit relies on the standing of a single local resident who walks her dog near the White House.
The filing further claims the National Trust is no longer a government-funded entity and argued that the project is being provided as a gift to the country at no cost to taxpayers.
READ: Florida Sen. Moody Moves To Kill ‘Daily Billion-Dollar Heist’ With Massive Anti-Fraud Blitz
The legal team for the National Park Service and the Trump administration argued that “every additional day of court-manufactured delay is yet another day that the lives of the President, his family, his Cabinet, and his staff… are being subject to avoidable hazard.”
The motion highlights a “bipartisan chorus” of support following the weekend’s events, specifically citing comments from Senator John Fetterman and Senator Rand Paul. Fetterman reportedly urged the court to “drop the TDS and build the White House ballroom” in light of the security breach.
The U.S. Secret Service provided a declaration from Deputy Director Quinn stating that while the agency was effective on Saturday, a dedicated facility within the White House complex would provide “major improvements in safety” that a public hotel cannot offer.
The National Trust has officially communicated its opposition to the motion, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown in the D.C. District Court as the administration seeks to move forward with the “Top Secret” military-grade construction.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
