"Driving the news: The Justice Department argued in the 36-page filing that "below-grade work" on the project should continue, "given the security concerns inherent in leaving the East Wing foundation area unfinished." The government also submitted a declaration from Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn, who said any pause in construction would "hamper the Secret Service's ability to meet its statutory obligations and protective mission." He said "improvements to the site are still needed" to meet the USSS' security requirements, but did not elaborate on what those were."
"And "[i]n an exercise of its discretion," the filing reads, the Executive Office of the President is set to submit drafted drawings to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) and the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts (CFA). It also states the National Trust's arguments are "moot" because the East Wing demolition can't be undone and "unripe" because the plans are not final."
Justice Department filings state below‑grade work on the East Wing ballroom should continue because leaving the foundation unfinished raises security concerns. Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said any pause would hamper the agency's ability to meet statutory obligations and its protective mission and that site improvements remain needed to satisfy security requirements. The East Wing was demolished earlier this year and had sat above a presidential emergency bunker. The National Trust sued to halt construction pending reviews, arguing presidents cannot legally remove White House portions without review. The National Park Service expects footings and structural concrete to start in January or February, with above‑grade work not expected before April.
Read at Axios
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]