On Friday, President Donald Trump’s $400 million plan to build a massive ballroom at the White House suffered a major legal setback after a federal appeals court ordered his administration to halt above-ground construction.
Appeals Court Blocks White House Ballroom Construction
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from continuing above-ground work on the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the site of the demolished East Wing.
The 2-1 ruling held that the administration had proceeded with the project without obtaining authorization from Congress.
The majority said the president does not have unlimited authority over the White House, noting that the property belongs to the federal government rather than the individual president.
“Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House,” the judges wrote.
The court said the decision does not permanently prevent construction of a ballroom but requires the administration to secure congressional approval before proceeding.
Trump Cites National Security
Trump has defended the project as necessary for both large formal events and White House security.
In a Truth Social post, he described the planned structure as a “military center” and said it would include bomb shelters, medical facilities and protections against drones and missiles.
“This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety,” Trump wrote, calling the ruling “horrendous.”
In a follow-up post on the same social media platform, Trump said, “This decision, made after much of the work has been done and paid for, is a National Security Threat at the highest level. It is also a National Disgrace.”
Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth previously argued that courts should not second-guess the administration’s national security concerns, saying the project was privately funded, Reuters reported.
Trump Administration Expected to Appeal
The ruling is being held for 14 days to give Trump’s administration time to seek Supreme Court intervention.
Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, dissented, arguing that the courts had improperly taken control of construction at the White House.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which brought the lawsuit, welcomed the ruling. President Brent Leggs called it “a great day for our country” and for Americans who want a voice in protecting historic places.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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