Court blocks construction of White House ballroom pending congressional approval

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision ordering the Trump administration to halt above-ground construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the White House East Wing site until Congress authorizes the project. The court said the matter is not for "Executive self-help" and must follow constitutional and statutory requirements. The ruling, which stays the order for two weeks to permit an appeal to the Supreme Court, upheld a district court injunction that had already stopped the work.

President Donald Trump responded on social media, calling the decision "unjust" and asserting that the ballroom, which he says will include security facilities such as bomb shelters and a hospital, does not require congressional funding because private donations are covering costs. The administration had previously sought $1 billion from Congress for the project, a request that was denied in May.

The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued that only Congress can authorize such a major alteration to the historic White House. Brent Leggs, the organization’s president and CEO, said the decision affirms the public’s right to protect historic sites. The appeals panel included Judges Neomi Rao, Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia; Millett and Garcia voted to block the construction, while Rao dissented.

The district court had allowed underground work on a bunker and other security facilities to continue, but barred any above-ground ballroom construction pending congressional approval. Government attorneys maintain the project is essential for national security, while preservationists contend that a ballroom is not a security necessity.