A White House UFC lawsuit seeks to halt a June 14 fight card on the South Lawn in Washington, timed for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
The Public Integrity Project filed the case on Saturday on behalf of two Virginia residents. The lawsuit says the Trump administration unlawfully approved the mixed martial arts event.
The filing says National Park Service rules prohibit sporting events on federal parklands. It also says Congress did not approve a large arch over the event space.
The lawsuit further argues that officials allowed construction without an environmental review. Lawyer Brendan Ballou said the plaintiffs viewed the event as a private commercial use of national monuments.
The White House rejected the challenge in a statement. It called the lawsuit “obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” and said the event followed rules for South Lawn and National Mall events. UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.
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Crews have started building an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn. Trump has said the project will include a 5,000-seat arena outside the White House.
UFC has said it plans to issue up to 85,000 free tickets to spectators for the South Lawn and the nearby Ellipse.
