A federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of the $400 million White House ballroom. The three-judge panel ruled that the project currently lacks the required congressional approval to proceed.
Construction of the 90,000-square-foot facility, located where the East Wing previously stood, remains a point of contention between the administration and historic preservationists. The court stated that the White House must secure specific authorization from Congress before moving forward with aboveground work.
President Trump has expressed strong disagreement with the decision, labeling it an unjust ruling. The administration plans to take the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the structure includes vital security features, such as medical facilities and specialized bunkers, which they claim fall under the purview of national security.
While the appeals court issued a stay of its order for two weeks to allow for an appeal, the decision reinforces the judicial stance that major modifications to the executive residence require formal legislative backing rather than executive action alone. The National Trust for Historic Preservation continues to oppose the project, citing concerns about the historic integrity of the site and the bypass of established constitutional processes.