DOJ Moves Against White House Ballroom Lawsuit in Wake of Shooting: 'Enough Is Enough'

The Justice Department is urging a nonprofit group to abandon its legal challenge against President Donald J. Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, arguing that recent events have underscored the urgent need for enhanced security infrastructure.

In a sharply worded letter sent Sunday, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate called on attorneys representing the National Trust for Historic Preservation to withdraw their lawsuit, citing Saturday night’s attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The attack, allegedly carried out by Cole Allen, 31, of California, left officials scrambling and reignited concerns about the safety of high-profile government events. According to federal prosecutors, Allen faces multiple felony charges, including attempted assassination, after allegedly opening fire at a security checkpoint at the Washington Hilton.

Referencing the incident, Shumate warned that the ongoing lawsuit could have serious consequences.

“[Y]our lawsuit puts the lives of the president, his family, and his staff at grave risk,” he wrote.

“I hope [Saturday’s] narrow miss will help you finally realize the folly of a lawsuit that literally serves no purpose except to stop President Trump no matter the cost,” Shumate added.

“Enough is enough. Your client should voluntarily dismiss this frivolous lawsuit today in light of last night’s assassination attempt on President Trump.”

The legal challenge seeks to block construction of a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House—an initiative the administration has defended as both a modernization effort and a critical security upgrade. The facility is expected to accommodate roughly 1,000 অতিথ guests and is being funded through private means.

The project has already cleared key federal review bodies, including the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. However, a federal judge recently ruled that congressional approval may still be required, placing aspects of construction in legal limbo while allowing limited work to proceed during the appeal process.

Despite mounting pressure, National Trust President Carol Quillen made clear the organization will not back down.

“We’re grateful to the Secret Service and DC law enforcement officers for keeping the President and all guests safe at this weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. We are not planning to voluntarily dismiss our lawsuit, which endangers no one and which respectfully asks the Administration to follow the law,” Quillen said.

“Ballroom construction is continuing unabated until June 5th at the earliest because the injunction is on hold. We have always acknowledged the utility of a larger meeting space at the White House. Building it lawfully requires the approval of Congress, which the Administration could seek at any time,” she added.

Meanwhile, DOJ officials confirmed they are moving forward with legal action to have the case dismissed. Administration representatives argue the timing of the lawsuit—amid heightened security threats—only strengthens the case for the ballroom’s necessity.

President Trump himself addressed the issue in an interview, emphasizing safety as a driving force behind the project.

“I’m building a safe ballroom. And one of the reasons I’m building it is exactly what happened last night,” he said.

“That ballroom is being built on the safest piece of property in this country,” the president added.

Supporters of the project argue the new facility would allow for more secure, centralized hosting of major events—reducing reliance on external venues and limiting exposure to potential threats.

As the legal battle continues, the debate highlights a broader tension between preservation concerns and modern security demands—one that could ultimately be decided in the courts or on Capitol Hill.