The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting historic buildings and cultural landmarks in the United States, has launched a legal defense fund to challenge projects associated with former President Donald Trump. The group aims to raise $10 million over three years to support its efforts in safeguarding historic sites and cultural heritage. The organization's president and CEO, Brent Leggs, explained that the fund will be used to strengthen the group’s legal team and its ability to engage with government officials, as it faces what it calls "urgent and existential threats" to historic preservation. The National Trust has been particularly vocal about its opposition to Trump's proposed changes to the White House, including a project to renovate the White House ballroom. This project would involve tearing down parts of the East Wing, paving over the Rose Garden, adding a helipad to the South Lawn, and redecorating the Oval Office. The Trust sued in federal court to stop the work until it undergoes multiple independent reviews and gets approval from Congress. However, the Supreme Court ruled against the group, allowing the ballroom project to proceed. In addition to the White House project, the National Trust is also involved in a lawsuit aimed at stopping the Trump administration’s efforts to restructure the Kennedy Center, a major cultural institution in Washington, D.C., which was recently closed to the public. Leggs has indicated that more legal battles are expected in the coming years. The group has also opposed proposed changes to the National Historic Preservation Act, which it claims would weaken legal protections for historic sites and public lands. At a recent National Preservation Summit, Leggs emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that "our national inheritance hangs in balance today" and describing the current moment as "existential" for the preservation field and the communities it serves. The Trust continues to advocate for the protection of historical and cultural landmarks, highlighting the importance of these sites in preserving the nation’s heritage for future generations.