PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN SUED BY PRESERVATIONISTS SEEKING AN ARCHITECTURE REVIEW AND CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL OVER HIS WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT.

THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION WANTS A FEDERAL COURT TO STOP THE BALLROOM PROJECT UNTIL IT GOES THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN REVIEWS AND WINS APPROVAL FROM CONGRESS.

THE PRIVATELY FUNDED ORGANIZATION ARGUES THAT TRUMP, BY FAST-TRACKING IT, HAS COMMITTED MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT AND THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT.

THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY INVOLVED RAZING THE EAST WING.

THEY ALSO SAY HE EXCEEDED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY BY NOT SEEKING CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FOR A PROJECT OF SUCH SCALE.

TRUMP HAS SAID A BALLROOM IS OVERDUE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINING THAT EVENTS WERE HELD OUTSIDE UNDER A TENT BECAUSE THE EAST ROOM AND THE STATE DINING ROOM COULD NOT ACCOMMODATE BIGGER CROWDS.

SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"We're good at building. I'm good at building things, and we'll get it built quickly and on time. It'll be beautiful, top, top of the line."

SINCE ANNOUNCING HIS PLANS FOR THE BALLROOM PROJECT, TRUMP HAS EMPHASIZED THAT HE’S DOING IT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING, INCLUDING HIS OWN MONEY, BUT THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CHANGE HOW FEDERAL LAWS AND PROCEDURES APPLY TO WHAT IS STILL A U.S. GOVERNMENT PROJECT.