Federal lawsuit claims Trump UFC White House event is illegal

A federal lawsuit filed in Washington is seeking to stop the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event planned for the White House South Lawn, arguing that organisers violated federal law.

The case was filed late Saturday by the Public Integrity Project in District of Columbia federal court.

Plaintiffs claim the Department of Interior and National Park Service unlawfully approved a private sporting event on public property without congressional authorisation.

The lawsuit alleges that construction of the UFC “claw” stadium structure on the South Lawn required approval from Congress because the area is classified as federal parkland.

It also claims organisers failed to complete an environmental review before construction began.

“We think that this is a profound misuse of our sacred national monuments for private gain. And we think that needs to be stopped because it breaks the law,” Brendan Ballou, lead attorney for the Public Integrity Project, told ESPN.

The Trump administration dismissed the lawsuit in a statement to ESPN, calling it “an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory lawsuit”.

The UFC event is scheduled to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations.

The organisation has previously said it expects the event to cost up to $60 million, with UFC covering expenses including repairs to the White House lawn after the event.