President Trump is rapidly pushing through construction projects in the nation's capital, outpacing the courts' ability to intervene. His White House ballroom project has encountered legal issues but continues largely unabated.
A government lawyer told an appeals court that it's too late to halt the president's construction of the 90,000-square-foot building, citing the significant progress made, including the installation of three million pounds of steel rebar.
Construction crews and vehicles have been streaming in and out of the White House complex for months, with nearly every project undertaken by the president facing litigation claiming he sidestepped the public review process or failed to obtain congressional approval.
Courts have faced similar challenges with Trump's overhaul of the reflecting pool and his plans to build a 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery, with the administration often notifying the court that the project is complete before a ruling can be issued.
Experts say it's still within the power of the courts to stop the ballroom construction, even at this relatively late stage, and that the administration's strategy of moving quickly to avoid litigation is not foolproof.
