A federal appeals court on Friday, August 7, ordered the Trump Administration to halt the construction of its $400 million ballroom at the White House.
The court ruled that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to continue the project without congressional approval.
The two-to-one ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court supported an injunction against the above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom that is supposed to replace the demolished East Wing.
The two-to-one ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court supported an injunction against the above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom that is supposed to replace the demolished East Wing.
The court wrote: “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.”
According to the Appropriations Clause under the Constitution and federal laws dealing with federal property, it is Congress that can authorise significant alterations to the White House. Trump’s claim that he managed to find ways to circumvent this provision by raising hundreds of millions through private funds was rejected, because according to the court, the issue does not have anything to do with the sources of funding but rather about the authority granted by the Constitution. His national security reason for the project was similarly dismissed, because the ballroom cannot be considered an emergency facility.
Responding to this, Trump insisted that Congress’s approval is unnecessary because the project is funded by private individuals. He vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump said previously: “He’s saying I need congressional approval and he’s so wrong. This is being financed privately.”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit, welcomed the decision. CEO Brent Leggs said: “The law states that only Congress can authorise the construction of a ballroom at the White House.”
2026-08-08 00:28:00
