US Appeals Court Halts Construction of Trump's $400 Million White House Ballroom

A federal appeals court in Washington ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must stop construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, finding the president lacks unilateral authority to proceed without approval from Congress. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided 2-1 with a historic preservation group that sued to block the project.

The planned 8,400-square-metre ballroom is set to occupy the site of the White House's former East Wing, which the administration had already demolished. Judges wrote that deciding whether such a large structure should be built is a matter for Congress, not for the executive branch acting alone. They clarified that the ruling does not necessarily prevent the ballroom from eventually being built — it only blocks construction from proceeding during ongoing litigation without congressional authorization. The court agreed to stay its decision for two weeks, giving the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Earlier rulings

The panel upheld an April order from District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, which halted above-ground construction while allowing work to continue below ground on a bunker and other facilities described as national security-related. Trump criticized Leon on social media, calling him biased and accusing him of trying to delay or block what he called a major gift to the country.

Government attorneys argued the project includes essential security upgrades against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles and biohazards, saying these are necessary to protect the president, his family and staff. Lawyers for the preservation group countered that not having a ballroom does not amount to a national security emergency.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit in December 2025, a week after demolition of the East Wing was completed to make way for the ballroom, which Trump has said would seat 999 people. The project received final approval in April from the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction in the Washington area.