Donald Trump facing legal action over $300,000,000 White House ‘renovation’
Donald Trump has been hit with legal action over his decision to demolish the White House's East Wing, as part of his $300,000,000 ballroom plans.
For those who need a reminder, the US president, 79, last week revealed that the entire section of the historical building was going to be torn down, despite previously reassuring Americans that his ballroom 'wouldn't interfere with the current building'.
He first shared plans to build a $200 million (£151 million) ballroom back in July - however, the cost has since crept up to $300 million (£225 million).
Trump described it as a ‘much-needed' and ‘exquisite’ addition, boasting that it would be 90,000 total square feet and have the capacity to seat 650 people.
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As for who's paying for it, the Republican leader swiftly confirmed that he would be reaching into his own pocket, along with a list of donors who are also contributing.
However, the news that the East Wing is being demolished has not gone down too well with some people, who are making it known they have an issue with the divisive plans.
And one couple have actually taken matters into their own hands and sued the American president.
As per Newsweek, Charles and Judith Voorhees, from Virginia, filed an emergency motion in federal court on Thursday (23 October), seeking to stop the project as they claim that it violates multiple federal preservation and planning laws.
The filing was lodged in the US District Court for the District of Columbia and it requests a temporary restraining order to halt defendants 'destruction of the East Wing of the White House… without legally required approvals or reviews'.
The defendants in the case are listed as Trump, as well as Jessica Brown, who is reportedly the director of the National Park Service.
The claimants allege that the construction and demolition work violates the National Capital Planning Act and the National Historic Preservation Act and requires a mandatory review by the Commission of Fine Arts.
Mark Denicore, the attorney who filed the motion, told Politico: "I feel like a lot of people want to do something about this, but nothing seems to be happening. I threw that together as fast as I could to try to get it filed as fast as I could."
He said his clients are 'just people, US citizens, that don’t like their house being torn down without going through proper procedures'.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Politico: "President Trump has full legal authority to modernize, renovate, and beautify the White House – just like all of his predecessors did."
Does Trump have permission for the demolition work?
As Trump is digging into his own pocket, and those of donors, for the project, he doesn't need approval from Congress - something critics are dubbing a 'loophole'.
However, some people have said that Trump has yet to get permission from the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC).
But the White House's argument is that it simply hasn’t needed to submit plans for review by the NCPC because only demolition - technically not construction - has begun.
At the commission’s September meeting, commission chair Will Scharf, who was appointed by Trump, said the agency has no jurisdiction over 'demolition and site preparation work', only over construction and 'vertical build'.
The commission is also currently closed because of the ongoing government shutdown.
A White House official told Reuters: "Construction plans have not yet been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission but will be soon."
Tyla has contacted the White House and National Park Service for comment.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News, News
Madison Burgess