Posted on March 31, 2026
Today, Judge Richard J. Leon granted the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s motion for a preliminary injunction, ordering construction of the White House ballroom to stop. His reasoning was clear: no existing statute gives the President authority to demolish the East Wing and build a 90,000-square-foot, $400 million ballroom in its place without congressional approval. The White House, the judge wrote, belongs to the American people, not to any one president.
This ruling matters to ADAO because it validates what we have been saying since day one: this demolition was carried out without transparency, without proper process, and without regard for public health and safety.
On October 21, 2025, the day media confirmed heavy machinery was tearing down the East Wing, ADAO issued a public statement raising urgent concerns about asbestos exposure risks to workers and the surrounding community. The East Wing, first built in 1902 and extensively renovated in the 1940s and 1950s, was constructed during an era when asbestos was used widely in building materials. Two days later, on October 23, we sent a formal letter directly to the White House demanding documentation of asbestos inspections, abatement plans, and worker safety protocols.
We received no response.
On November 5, 2025, ADAO filed comprehensive FOIA requests with nine federal agencies seeking inspection reports, abatement permits, air-monitoring data, waste shipment records, and inter-agency communications related to the demolition. The agencies failed to meet their statutory deadlines. Only the General Services Administration responded, stating it had no responsive records.
On January 7, 2026, ADAO filed a FOIA lawsuit in federal court against the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Labor, the EPA, and the Executive Office of the President. As I said at the time: “ADAO’s FOIA lawsuit is essential to protecting public health, ensuring safety, and maintaining public trust.” As a mesothelioma widow, I know firsthand the devastating consequences of asbestos exposure, and silence from the government is not acceptable.
Today’s preliminary injunction is a short-term win, and the legal fight is far from over. But Judge Leon’s opinion reinforces the principle at the heart of our case, too: when the government acts without authorization and without transparency, the courts can and should intervene.
We will continue pressing for the records the public deserves. Construction has been halted. Now we need answers.
As Judge Leon wrote: “After all, the White House does not belong to any one man — not even a president!”
Onward. Together.
Linda Reinstein
