Court Halts White House Ballroom Construction, Citing Congressional Approval

A federal appeals court has instructed the Trump administration to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom project at the White House until Congress gives its approval. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit stated that President Donald Trump lacks the authority to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing was previously located without legislative consent.

The decision was made by a three-judge panel in a 2-1 ruling, siding with historic preservationists who sued to halt the project. The court emphasized that constructing such a massive addition is a decision meant for Congress, not the executive branch. The ruling allows a two-week period for the Trump administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,” the court declared.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had previously ordered the administration to halt above-ground work on the project, though he allowed below-ground development for national security facilities to continue. Trump criticized Leon’s decision on social media, describing him as biased.

The appeals court’s decision included Judges Patricia Millett, Neomi Rao, and Bradley Garcia. Millett and Garcia backed the decision, while Rao opposed it. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December 2025, a week after the East Wing was demolished to accommodate the ballroom.

Government lawyers argued that the project includes critical security upgrades to protect against various threats. “These upgrades, alterations, and improvements are essential to protecting the President, his family, and his staff,” they claimed in legal documents.

However, attorneys for the preservation group argue that not having a ballroom does not pose a national security emergency. The ongoing legal battle reflects competing priorities between preserving historic structures and addressing modern security needs.