Appeals court halts Trump's $400m White House ballroom

A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of the president’s $400 million White House ballroom, dealing a significant legal setback to a project that has stirred controversy since the historic East Wing was demolished last year. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction that had limited work to underground areas deemed essential for national security. The ruling was put on hold for two weeks, giving the administration time to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.

Court rebuffs executive authority

Writing for the majority, Judges Patricia Millet and Bradley Garcia said the Constitution and federal law require congressional authorization before the president can build a large hospitality venue on the White House grounds. They emphasized that a president is a temporary tenant of the executive mansion, not an owner, and that decisions about major construction belong to Congress. The judges added that their opinion should not be read as a judgment on whether a ballroom is desirable as a matter of policy. Instead, they said, the administration may not proceed with the project during the ongoing litigation without securing Congress’s approval.

The dissenting judge, Neomi Rao, an appointee of President Trump, argued that the ballroom plan falls within the president’s authority. Her position was praised by Trump in a social media statement.

A controversial demolition and construction

The dispute began last year when the Trump administration demolished the East Wing, a historically recognized part of the White House complex, to make way for an 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The project was conceived as a space for entertaining official guests and visiting dignitaries, and Trump has repeatedly described it as a gift to the American people. But no authorization was sought from Congress, prompting a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In April, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by George W. Bush, issued a preliminary ruling that allowed only underground construction to proceed on national security grounds, while blocking the ballroom itself. Trump at the time called Leon a “Trump hating” judge who, he claimed, had sought to delay or prevent the project from being built.

Trump vows appeal

Friday’s ruling drew sharp criticism from the president, who wrote on social media that it was “totally wrong” and said an appeal would be filed. He also asserted that the decision “severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare” of White House staff, though the court’s order does not affect ongoing security operations. The appeals court’s two-week stay is intended to allow the administration to seek review from the Supreme Court.

Legal observers say the case raises fundamental questions about the limits of presidential power over the White House itself. While the president has broad authority over the executive branch, the residence and its historic buildings are governed by federal statutes designed to preserve the nation’s heritage.

What happens next

The administration is expected to file an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court in the coming days. If the justices decline to hear the case or uphold the appeals court, construction will remain on hold unless Congress acts. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has welcomed the ruling, arguing that the White House belongs to the American people and must be protected for future generations.

The ballroom project is just one of several moves by the Trump administration that have tested the boundaries of executive power. The Supreme Court’s decision, if it agrees to intervene, could set a precedent for how presidents manage the properties entrusted to their care.