Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court’s three liberal justices, writing in his dissent that the ongoing construction was ‘likely unlawful’

A 5-4 conservative majority on the Supreme Court ruled Monday that construction on a new $400 million White House ballroom can proceed, reversing lower court orders that had temporarily halted aboveground work on the project.

Chief Justice John Roberts dissented from the decision, writing that the ongoing construction was “likely unlawful.”

Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in opposition, arguing that work on the facility had moved forward unchecked for nearly a year despite significant legal flaws.

Despite Roberts’ warning, the majority threw out the challenge against the Trump administration on procedural grounds. The court concluded that the plaintiff, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, lacked the legal standing required to pursue a federal lawsuit.