White House ballroom project ‘must continue for national security reasons’

Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

The Trump administration has said in a court filing that the White House ballroom construction project must continue for unexplained national security reasons and because a conservationists’ organisation that wants it stopped has no standing to sue.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation asked a federal judge to halt Donald Trump’s project until it goes through independent reviews and a public comment period and wins approval from Congress.