Overview
- U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday that pauses above‑ground work on the East Wing ballroom, with an exception for safety and security tasks and a 14‑day window to appeal.
- The administration filed a notice of appeal within hours, and the judge warned that any above‑ground work during the stay that violates his order could later be removed or trigger contempt proceedings.
- Leon said the National Trust for Historic Preservation is likely to win because no statute grants the president authority for such a project, citing the Constitution’s Property, Appropriations and District Clauses and reading the cited maintenance law as allowing only routine upkeep.
- The plan calls for a privately funded ballroom of roughly $400 million and about 90,000 square feet, which began after the East Wing was demolished in October, complicating a scheduled April 2 planning review by a federal oversight board.
- Leon noted that past major White House changes won explicit approval from Congress, such as the 19th‑century porticos and the Truman‑era rebuild, and he said the president can seek similar authorization or pursue a higher‑court appeal.