The National Capital Planning Commission voted to approve the concept and site designs of President Donald Trump's White House East Wing Modernization project, despite a federal judge's injunction preventing construction from progressing. The judge, Richard J. Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, had previously ruled that the administration should seek approval from Congress to proceed. The National Trust for Historic Preservation had sued the project, and Leon had previously indicated his intention to require legal reviews of the design and its potential impacts on the White House campus. Chairman William Scharf defended the project and promised that it would be considered as much of a national treasure as other key components of the House. Despite the court order, Commissioner Phil Mendelson voted against the project.