Lawsuit filed seeking preliminary injunction to halt upcoming ‘UFC Freedom 250’ event taking place on WH South Lawn
OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
2:56 PM – Monday, June 8, 2026
A federal lawsuit was filed on Saturday seeking a preliminary injunction and emergency temporary restraining order to halt the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event scheduled for the South Lawn of the White House.
The legal challenge targets “UFC Freedom 250,” a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event planned for June 14, 2026. The administration has promoted it as a signature event celebrating America’s semiquincentennial — the nation’s 250th anniversary. The date also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and Flag Day.
Trump has previously stated that the upcoming event will be “the greatest show on Earth.”
Meanwhile, the lawsuit in question argues that the event primarily serves to benefit the UFC brand and private interests rather than functioning as a genuine national celebration. The lawsuit was brought by the Public Integrity Project, a Washington-based advocacy group, on behalf of two Virginia residents: Paul Romano, a retired Air Force sergeant from Springfield, and Susan Douglas, an activist and organizer from Alexandria. In the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the plaintiffs argue that the administration’s authorization of the professional sporting event “bypasses federal safeguards.”
Specifically, they allege violations of National Park Service regulations that prohibit commercial sporting exhibitions on protected federal parklands, along with the “absence of required environmental reviews” and “congressional authorization for the construction.”
At the heart of the dispute is the rapid transformation of the White House South Lawn. Construction crews have built a temporary arena with capacity for approximately 4,500–5,000 seated spectators, centered around a traditional octagonal UFC fight cage. Towering over the historic grounds is a large multi-arched overhead lighting and production structure known as “The Claw,” described in reports as roughly 92 feet tall and weighing hundreds of tons.
Promotional plans include a weigh-in ceremony or pre-fight event at the Lincoln Memorial and a large secondary fan viewing area at the nearby Ellipse to accommodate tens of thousands of additional non-ticketed spectators.
The plaintiffs’ counsel, including Brendan Ballou of the Public Integrity Project, described the event as “a profoundly corrupt scheme” that represents an unprecedented intersection of government power and private corporate profit. He also argued that it improperly uses sacred national monuments for premium branding opportunities.
Additionally, the filing notes potential financial benefits to UFC CEO Dana White, corporate advertisers, broadcast partner Paramount (Skydance), and others, including references to high-priced VIP hospitality packages and President Trump’s reported stock holdings in the UFC’s parent company.
In response, the White House quickly dismissed the lawsuit as “an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory tactic” designed to undermine a historic moment. Administration officials maintain that the event is fully compliant with federal oversight and constitutes a valid part of congressionally supported activities honoring America’s 250th anniversary. They highlighted that it is comparable to other permitted cultural, celebratory, or political events regularly hosted on the South Lawn, Ellipse, and National Mall.
Representatives for the UFC and Paramount have similarly acknowledged the litigation, but declined further comment as a federal judge considers the emergency injunction request ahead of the scheduled events.
U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, has not yet set a hearing, but he could order both sides to appear before him this week to make their arguments in person, according to CNN.
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