Plaintiffs a part of a federal lawsuit that was filed Saturday are trying to stop UFC Freedom 250 on the White House’s South Lawn, which is set to take place June 14.
Filed in District of Columbia federal court by the Public Integrity Project, the lawsuit claims that the National Park Service and Department of Interior are in violation of federal law by coordinating on public property a private sporting event, and being unsuccessful at obtaining approval from Congress for the numerous construction sites connected. In the same court Sunday morning, a filing was done for an emergency application for a preliminary injunction to halt UFC Freedom 250. (RELATED: REPORT: Olympians Come Together To Stand Up Against Iran For Executing Nation’s Star Athletes)
It’s alleged by the lawsuit that park service regulations were violated by permitting the event to happen, that the UFC claw stadium structure being built on the White House South Lawn had to get authorization from Congress due to the parkland being federal, and that an environmental review wasn’t done “before undertaking ‘major federal action’ significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”
“We think that this is a profound misuse of our sacred national monuments for private gain,” said Public Integrity Project lead attorney Brendan Ballou, per ESPN. “And we think that needs to be stopped because it breaks the law.”
A federal lawsuit seeks to halt the UFC fight card on the White House South Lawn, a show timed for President Trump’s 80th birthday and touted as part of the celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. https://t.co/kH4332iOGV
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 8, 2026
It was stated by Ballou that he is anticipating the emergency injunction application to receive a ruling soon. The Public Integrity Project labels its brand as a law firm that is anti-corruption. The entity has Washington-based offices.
An official in the Trump administration expressed their displeasure with the lawsuit in.a statement Sunday that was emailed to ESPN.
“This is an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory lawsuit brought simply to prevent President Trump from hosting what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most historic sporting events in our Nation’s history during our semiquincentennial celebration,” read the statement, per ESPN. “This iconic event is no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.”
The news conference from UFC is scheduled for Friday, and is set to happen towards the Lincoln Memorial’s front. Being held at the Ellipse, weigh-ins are set for Saturday, while the White House event takes place Sunday. UFC Freedom 250 coincides with the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump.