Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

BumRushDaShow

(170,214 posts)
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 11:56 AM 4 hrs ago

Trump's DOJ claims East Wing was 'infested' and 'dilapidated' in latest appeal over White House ballroom

Source: The Independent

Friday 10 April 2026 10:47 EDT


Lawyers for Donald Trump’s administration claim that the federal judge’s order blocking construction of a $400 million White House ballroom “gravely threatens national security” and that “upgrades” to the now-demolished East Wing are “not cosmetic.”

The government’s latest appeal says lawyers for the administration are preparing to take the fight to the Supreme Court.

In a filing with a D.C. appeals court, the government lists several additions to the planned 90,000-square-foot structure, including “missile-resistant steel columns, beams, drone-proof roofing materials, and bullet, ballistic, and blast proof glass windows.” There will be “bomb shelters, hospital and medical facilities, protective partitioning, and top-secret military installations, air conditioning, heating, venting, and more,” according to Thursday night’s filing from Department of Justice attorneys.

Those updates, they argue, replace a “dilapidated, infested and structurally unsound” East Wing that was bulldozed last year. The additions are “essential to protecting the president, his family, and his staff, as well as the White House itself, and the entire project flows from them,” according to the Justice Department.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-white-house-ballroom-infested-bomb-shelter-b2955382.html



Link to FILING (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.42993/gov.uscourts.cadc.42993.01208838959.0_1.pdf


I guess next, a moat will be added, surrounded by razor wire fencing for extra "protection".
21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump's DOJ claims East Wing was 'infested' and 'dilapidated' in latest appeal over White House ballroom (Original Post) BumRushDaShow 4 hrs ago OP
I can agree that the White House was infested as of Jan. 20, 2025. tanyev 4 hrs ago #1
If I could recommend this post 100x choie 4 hrs ago #2
My thoughts exactly! TurboDem 4 hrs ago #8
Damn right! Initech 3 hrs ago #13
And they should put some gators in that moat... wcmagumba 4 hrs ago #3
The excuses and lies for that stupid ballroom are ever evolving Klarkashton 4 hrs ago #4
Oh...but asbestos abatement...psssh purr-rat beauty 4 hrs ago #5
They could have just said that in the first place. eggplant 4 hrs ago #6
Just like in 'Scarface!' Kid Berwyn 4 hrs ago #7
What does the Dept. of Justice know about historic building rehabilitation? FakeNoose 4 hrs ago #9
They're not doing so hot with the lawyering, either. tanyev 3 hrs ago #15
"bomb shelters, hospital and medical facilities, protective partitions, and top-secret military installations, air cond" Ray Bruns 4 hrs ago #10
Tommy Steele as Og would be proud... wcmagumba 3 hrs ago #16
Sounds more like personal security for the greatest individual threat to national security. Harker 3 hrs ago #17
"dilapidated, infested and structurally unsound" are a potential justification Wiz Imp 3 hrs ago #11
;-{)....... Goonch 3 hrs ago #12
When people say he smells like a rotten meat locker... Initech 3 hrs ago #14
No pictures, no videos, no witness's bluestarone 3 hrs ago #18
Infested? you call and exterminator. dilapidated? you call a structural engineer. Javaman 3 hrs ago #19
Cue the 'gators... ultralite001 3 hrs ago #20
Liars. Martin68 2 hrs ago #21

Klarkashton

(5,339 posts)
4. The excuses and lies for that stupid ballroom are ever evolving
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:07 PM
4 hrs ago

This is one an extreme lie and bullshit. It was never part of the plan.

eggplant

(4,209 posts)
6. They could have just said that in the first place.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:15 PM
4 hrs ago

Except that they didn't think of it until today.

FakeNoose

(41,801 posts)
9. What does the Dept. of Justice know about historic building rehabilitation?
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:27 PM
4 hrs ago

Stick to lawyering, guys.

Ray Bruns

(6,428 posts)
10. "bomb shelters, hospital and medical facilities, protective partitions, and top-secret military installations, air cond"
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:37 PM
4 hrs ago

And there will be unicorns that shit gold bricks. And leprechauns with pots of gold! And a McDonald' open 24/7!

Harker

(17,848 posts)
17. Sounds more like personal security for the greatest individual threat to national security.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 01:04 PM
3 hrs ago

Wiz Imp

(10,092 posts)
11. "dilapidated, infested and structurally unsound" are a potential justification
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 12:47 PM
3 hrs ago

for demolishing the east wing (of course they didn't make that argument when it happened plus I'm sure there is no actual engineer who has ever claimed that). However, the conditions in the old structure can in no way be used to justify building a ballroom which never existed before and is completely unnecessary

Initech

(108,881 posts)
14. When people say he smells like a rotten meat locker...
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 01:00 PM
3 hrs ago

That will follow him everywhere, so everything must smell like that.

Javaman

(65,817 posts)
19. Infested? you call and exterminator. dilapidated? you call a structural engineer.
Fri Apr 10, 2026, 01:23 PM
3 hrs ago

Massive spoiled child like ego? you tear it down.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump's DOJ claims East W...