Two days after a federal judge ordered President Donald Trump's $400 million ballroom project to be halted, saying it should first receive authorization from Congress, a federal planning agency is expected to take a final vote on the site and building plans for the project.
The April 2 vote by the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission, chaired by Will Scharf, White House staff secretary and Trump's former personal lawyer, will be held in person, allowing members of public to attend. This contrasts with the public hearing on March 5, which was moved online after the project was deluged with more than 35,000 written comments and 104 people wanting to testify. Most comments were negative.
Even if the commission votes in support of the ballroom, it can’t override the judge’s decision to stop construction on the project.
Still, the vote brings it to the last step of the review process, said Stephen Staudigl, spokesperson for the planning commission.
A White House official granted anonymity to speak freely told USA TODAY that "nothing about the injunction prevents a planning commission from considering the aesthetic and architectural value of the project."
