Donald Trump has vowed to take his case to the US Supreme Court following a federal appeals court ruling that he requires congressional approval to continue renovating the White House East Wing.
The US court of appeals for the District of Columbia circuit issued a 2-1 decision, with Judges Patricia Millet and Bradley Garcia stating that "each president is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence." The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The renovation project is set to occupy 90,000 square feet, including a 22,000 square foot ballroom and a six-story underground bunker. The president has reportedly discussed using the new building's roof as a launching pad for drones and other weapons. Costs for the project have varied widely, with a recent figure of $400m mentioned, and some funds reportedly diverted from publicly funded agencies.