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2h ago

Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s White House Ballroom Without Congressional Approval

The ruling says Congress, not the president, must authorize major changes to federal property and pauses above‑ground work while giving the administration 14 days to seek Supreme Court relief.

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Construction continues on a new helipad on the South Lawn of the White House and the East Wing ballroom on Aug. 6, 2026.
Construction of a ballroom at the White House seen from a window at the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 4, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
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Overview

  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that the Trump administration cannot proceed with above‑ground construction of the proposed 90,000‑square‑foot, roughly $400 million ballroom without congressional authorization.
  • The three‑judge panel affirmed a district court injunction but stayed that order for 14 days so the administration can ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene.
  • Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia formed the majority and wrote that Congress controls development of federal property, while Judge Neomi Rao dissented and argued the president has authority to make changes to the Executive Residence.
  • The court allowed below‑ground security work to continue, including planned bunkers and related infrastructure, while blocking visible above‑ground work that would alter the historic White House complex.
  • The case began after the White House demolished the East Wing in October 2025 and the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December 2025; the ruling tests the balance between executive authority, historic‑preservation rules, and potential congressional oversight or funding decisions.