The Trump administration faced a setback on Friday as a federal appeals court ordered a halt to the construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. The court highlighted the lack of congressional approval for the project, asserting that President Donald Trump lacks unilateral authority to carry out such a construction.
The ruling came from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, involving a three-judge panel who sided with historic preservationists opposing the project. In a 2-1 decision, the court stated that the construction of a large ballroom is a matter for Congress to decide, not for executive action. This decision does not address the desirability of the ballroom, nor does it permanently prohibit construction. The ruling indicates that the administration needs to secure congressional authorization during ongoing litigation.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon previously ordered the administration to halt above-ground work, allowing below-ground efforts for national security purposes to continue. President Trump criticized Judge Leon’s decision publicly, accusing him of delaying or derailing the ballroom construction.
The appeals court panel included Judges Patricia Millett, Neomi Rao, and Bradley Garcia. Judges Millett and Garcia supported the decision, while Rao opposed it. Legal action was initiated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation shortly after the East Wing demolition to make way for the ballroom designed to host 999 guests.
Government lawyers have defended the project by emphasizing improvements that address potential threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards, seeing these upgrades as essential for security at the White House. The preservation group argued no national security emergency necessitates a ballroom.
Judge Leon’s initial ruling restricted above-ground work until congressional approval was obtained. While considering national security issues, Leon affirmed work could resume on below-ground construction like bunkers. He rejected the administration’s argument that the ballroom is entirely a security project, stressing the need for congressional involvement.
Despite the ongoing legal dispute, the ballroom received approval in early April from the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees construction on federal property in the Washington area.