Although the fate of the ballroom is tied up in court, the Trump administration argues that the project is too far along to be stopped now.

© Andrew Leyden for The New York Times

A federal judge ruled that initial preparatory steps, including testing out paints on the building’s gray granite exterior, could proceed for now.

© Allison Robbert for The New York Times

Prosecutors led by Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney in Washington, argued that Melissa Farris posed a flight risk and asked the court to reverse its decision.

© Kylie Cooper/Reuters