A Justice Department lawyer argued at a federal appeals court hearing this week that no one would have legal standing to sue if the president decided to 'bulldoze' the Statue of Liberty. Because by the time courts could act, the harm would be irreversible. The assertion came as the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit reviewed a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation challenging the demolition of the White House's East Wing to make way for a new ballroom.
The panel explored whether preservation groups can intervene once a demolition project begins, and whether the speed of construction can effectively remove judicial oversight entirely.
