The Justice Department used a late-night court filing Monday to ask a federal judge to lift his order halting construction of President Donald Trump's proposed White House ballroom.
In the filing, top DOJ officials argued that the weekend attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents' dinner underscores the urgent need for a secure, on-site facility capable of protecting the president and senior officials during large events, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.
"After the Saturday night attempted assassination ... reasonable minds can no longer differ — The injunction must be dissolved," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other officials wrote to U.S. District Judge Richard Leon.
Trump shared the filing Tuesday morning on Truth Social.
Authorities say a suspect armed with multiple weapons breached a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton, where the annual dinner was held, and opened fire before being stopped.
The close call, according to federal officials, exposed critical vulnerabilities in hosting high-profile events at off-site venues.
The DOJ's motion argues that the proposed $400 million ballroom would eliminate those risks by providing a hardened, integrated security environment within the White House complex.
Plans for the facility include reinforced concrete and steel construction, bulletproof glass, drone-resistant roofing, and unified security and infrastructure systems designed to withstand modern threats.
Officials contend that such a facility would have prevented Saturday night's incident and point to multiple assassination attempts against Trump since 2024 as further evidence that existing protections are insufficient.
"Every additional day of White House vulnerability harms the government," the filing states, warning that continued delays put the president, his family, and others in the line of succession at unnecessary risk.
The motion also takes aim at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that filed the lawsuit blocking construction.
DOJ lawyers accused the group of obstructing a project vital to national security and ignoring warnings from military and intelligence officials about the sensitive nature of the facility.
The National Trust, however, pushed back, saying its lawsuit is focused on ensuring the administration follows the law, not opposing security improvements.
In a statement, President and CEO Carol Quillen said the group does not plan to drop the case and emphasized that congressional approval is required before such construction can proceed.
"We have always acknowledged the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House," Quillen said, adding that the administration could seek authorization from Congress at any time.
Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, had previously halted aboveground construction, citing a lack of congressional approval.
An appeals court has temporarily paused that order while legal proceedings continue.
Still, support for the ballroom project has grown among Republicans and some security officials, particularly in the wake of Saturday's incident.
Backers argue the facility would enhance security and ensure the president can safely carry out official duties without relying on vulnerable external locations.
As the legal fight intensifies, the DOJ is pressing the court to act swiftly, framing the issue as a matter of national security that cannot afford further delay.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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