The Washington Post reports:

The Trump administration has appealed a federal judge’s order to halt the construction of President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom, arguing in an emergency motion that pausing the $400 million project would raise national security risks.

The motion, which was filed Friday night in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argues that U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s “shocking, unprecedented, and improper injunction” to stop construction would imperil Trump, his family and White House staff. The administration asked for Leon’s order to be stayed pending appeal and said it would seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court if necessary.

“Time is of the essence!” Justice Department lawyers wrote, saying that the planned 90,000-square-foot addition to the White House is being designed to defend against “hostile attacks via drones, ballistic missiles, bullets, biohazards” and other potential threats to the president. They also argued that Trump has the authority to build the ballroom, disputing Leon’s ruling that the project requires congressional approval.

The tone of the administration’s 27-page filing — particularly its first five pages — departs from the usual style for federal appellate briefs, which typically focus on legal arguments. Instead, the language closely resembles Trump’s charged remarks and social media posts about the ballroom, which the president has identified as a personal priority. The appeal invokes the “American Patriots” who have made donations for the project, lists various materials being used to construct it and repeats Trump’s frequent boasts that the project is under budget and ahead of schedule. [Continue reading…]