Judges Pause Order Stopping Work on Ballroom

A federal appeals court is letting work move ahead until April 17 on President Trump's planned White House ballroom, while the order presses a lower court to flesh out the project's security implications. On Saturday, a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit told District Judge Richard Leon to explain how his earlier decision suspending work on the $400 million expansion "will ensure safety and security pending litigation," the Washington Post reports. Leon had ordered a stop in March until Congress signs off, while allowing limited work through April 14 as well as any additional construction needed to protect the White House complex.

The administration appealed Leon's ruling, saying a halt would endanger Trump, his family and staff by leaving them vulnerable in the event of an attack on the White House. Judges Patricia A. Millett, an Obama appointee, and Bradley N. Garcia, a Biden appointee, voted in favor of the order. Judge Neomi Rao, who was selected by Trump, wrote in a dissenting opinion that she'd rather let the construction go on while the case is in the courts, per the New York Times.