WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to allow construction of a large new White House ballroom to proceed, escalating a legal battle over whether the president can undertake major changes to the executive mansion without explicit approval from Congress.

In an emergency filing, Solicitor General D. John Sauer requested that the justices put on hold a recent appeals court ruling that ordered a halt to above-ground work on the project. The administration argued the injunction is unlawful and that the ballroom forms part of an integrated security complex needed for national security.

"This case involves an extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex, including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White House, which is vitally required by national security," the Justice Department lawyers wrote.

The request comes one week after a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that the administration lacked authority to proceed without congressional authorization. The panel upheld a lower-court order from U.S. District Judge Richard Leon directing a stop to most above-ground construction while allowing underground work on security features, including a presidential bunker and related facilities, to continue.

"Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for........

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