Overview
- U.S. District Judge Richard Leon denied a temporary restraining order and set a further hearing for January.
- He directed the administration to submit plans to the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts by the end of December.
- Below‑grade work may continue, but the judge cautioned against irreversible steps that would predetermine the above‑ground design and said the government must be ready to undo them.
- The Justice Department argued the project is lawful and tied to national security, filing a Secret Service declaration and offering classified details to the court.
- The National Trust says required reviews and public input were bypassed; above‑ground construction is not expected until April 2026, and Trump now cites a $400 million, privately funded price tag.