- The Department of Justice is pushing for the immediate construction of a $400 million White House ballroom project, citing a recent shooting near a security checkpoint as proof of its "critical need" for national security.
- A filing from the Justice Department details "top secret" features of the proposed ballroom, including a drone-proof roof, missile-resistant columns, blast-proof glass, bomb shelters and military installations.
- Government lawyers argue the ballroom is essential for the president to perform constitutional duties safely, protecting against threats and replacing "vulnerable tents" used for events.
- The project faces a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation seeking to block construction, which the DOJ called a “great attack on our Country.”
- The recent incident involved 21-year-old Nasire Best, who was fatally shot by the Secret Service after opening fire near a White House checkpoint, injuring a bystander.
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