DOJ Asks Court to Lift Block on White House Ballroom Project After Recent Shooting

The department said the May 23 shooting underscored the ‘critical need for top level, state of the art security at the White House,’ including the ballroom.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters alongside posters of his proposed White House ballroom amid construction at the White House in Washington on May 19, 2026. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked a court on May 24 to lift the block on the White House ballroom project, citing a recent shooting it said was the second attempted assassination of President Donald Trump in one month.

In its court filing, the DOJ referenced the May 23 incident that occurred near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, where a gunman pulled a weapon from his bag and opened fire at a White House security checkpoint, prompting Secret Service agents to return fire.