Hickenlooper, 143 Members File Amicus Brief to Block Trump’s Illegal Ballroom

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with 143 of his colleagues, filed an amicus brief challenging President Trump's illegal demolition of the White House East Wing and illegal construction of his $1 billion ballroom.

"The president's priorities are completely backward. We have money for ballrooms and bombs - and tax breaks for billionaires - but nothing for hardworking Americans," said Hickenlooper.

Congress has exclusive power to determine when and if federal property should be constructed, renovated, or demolished. Before any project on federal property begins, Congress must appropriate funds. Congress never authorized or funded the demolition of the East Wing or the construction of Trump's ballroom.

"The President cannot undertake any construction at the White House-much less demolish one of its wings-without clear authorization from Congress, as well as an appropriation of funds to do so," wrote the lawmakers.

"Whereas the President lives in the White House for only a finite period while in office, the Constitution entrusts Congress, acting for the people, with making long-term decisions about the 'People's House' …. Allowing the President to demolish an entire wing of the White House and rebuild it to his liking, while entirely bypassing Congress's constitutional role and ignoring express statutory prohibition, disrupts the balance of powers put in place by the nation's Framers," wrote the lawmakers in the brief.

The lawmakers concluded, "The President cannot undertake any construction at the White House-much less demolish one of its wings-without clear authorization from Congress, as well as an appropriation of funds to do so. Here, Congress neither authorized the demolition and reconstruction of the East Wing nor appropriated funds necessary for that project."

Hickenlooper has been a vocal opponent of President Trump's pet project, calling out his questionable priorities at a time when Americans are suffering a cost-of-living emergency.

Full text of the brief is available HERE.

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