President Trump argues lawsuit seeking to halt White House UFC fight was brought too late

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNN) -- Right now, the Trump Administration is urging a federal judge to reject a bid to stop an upcoming UFC fight at the White House.

It argues a lawsuit from two Virginia residents against the event was brought too late to justify judicial intervention now.

The event is set to take place Sunday.

A massive structure has been built in recent days on the White House’s south lawn for the fight.

Justice Department lawyers told a federal judge that a ruling blocking the event would upend months of careful planning and unfairly burden a host of parties on the other side of the case. They include President Donald Trump, thousands of spectators, and more than a dozen athletes expected to take part in the event.

The lawsuit was filed Saturday by the public integrity project on behalf of a Vietnam War veteran and a civic activist.

The plaintiffs contend officials circumvented federal rules and regulations to allow the privately run event to take place on government property.

It alleges they violated a law requiring congressional approval before any structure can be put up on public land in Washington, D.C. but the Justice Department contends federal law does not require congress to approve “temporary structures” on the White House grounds.