[0:00]President Trump's big ballroom project is on pause for now. He faced a major setback on Tuesday when a federal judge ordered that construction could not begin on the White House ballroom back here that he's been eager to build. U.S. Judge Richard Leon wrote, quote, The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner. Leon was appointed to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, and this came in response to a preservationist group's request to pause construction on the ballroom. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had sued to get the project paused as it underwent independent reviews and congressional approval. The president was not happy about this, calling that group that brought the lawsuit, a radical left group of lunatics. Shortly after, he also told reporters in the Oval Office, "We've built many things at the White House over the years and they don't get congressional approval." He also justified the building of the ballroom for security reasons, saying it has bulletproof glass, secure telecommunications and bomb shelters and major medical facilities. Right now, the construction over here is paused for 14 days, according to the judge's order. He indicated that Congress has to bless the project with their authorization. The White House filed a fast appeal on this. Earlier this week, the president showed the press new renderings of the ballroom while he was flying on Air Force One, saying this 90,000 square foot space can hold thousands of people for an inauguration. It's estimated to cost around $400 million, all of which the president claims is going to be paid for by private money and no taxpayer money. As we've covered here at PBS News, President Trump has made many dramatic changes to the White House grounds in the last year or so. He paved over the Rose Garden, he added Presidential Walk of Fame, he's put statues in the Rose Garden. Also, he's put up a lot of gold signage and decor around the West Wing. But the demolition of the East Wing and now construction of the ballroom is definitely the largest project to date. For months, I've heard jackhammering and construction basically every day that I've been at the White House, as they have been clearing the entire East Wing to make room for this ballroom.
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