Overview
- Trump said on Truth Social that structural steel, bulletproof glass and other materials have been ordered, declaring there is no practical way to reverse the project.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December to stop the plan after the East Wing was demolished in October to clear the site.
- U.S. District Judge Richard Leon voiced doubts about the administration’s statutory authority and said he will decide on a preliminary injunction in the coming weeks.
- Justice Department lawyers told the court the plans could still be modified and that above‑ground work awaits advisory reviews, with an NCPC vote set for March 5 and public comment opening Feb. 12.
- The White House says the $300–$400 million addition is privately funded with input from the Secret Service and military, and a Secret Service filing warned that delays could hamper protection of the president and the complex.