In June, Democrats warned that $350 million in funds from a tax cuts law appeared to have been redirected to the White House for security, including the ballroom. The divided appeals court panel upheld an April 16 order from Leon for the Trump administration to halt aboveground work on the ballroom. Attorneys for the preservation group countered that the lack of a White House ballroom doesn’t constitute a national security emergency. In response, the appeals court instructed the judge to reconsider the national security implications of stopping construction. The judge stressed that the White House is free to proceed with underground work, including the construction of any bunkers, military installations and medical facilities.