The U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary order on Friday allowing the Trump administration to resume construction of the White House ballroom, a project valued at roughly $400 million, pending further judicial review. The stay halts a lower‑court injunction that would have stopped above‑ground work.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts signed the order, pausing a district‑court injunction upheld by the D.C. Circuit that barred any above‑ground construction on the former East Wing site. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued, arguing the president lacks unilateral authority under the Administrative Procedure Act and NEPA. The administration cites national‑security needs and claims $200 million in private donations, while Congress has not granted formal approval.
The stay permits contractors to continue the 8,400‑square‑metre ballroom and associated underground facility, extending the timeline for a project that could approach $1 billion when fully funded. It also delays congressional scrutiny of federal spending and historic‑preservation compliance, reinforcing executive claims of broad authority over White House grounds.
The preservation group maintains that courts have repeatedly ruled the president lacks unilateral power to proceed without congressional consent, while the administration argues historic precedent allows independent action. The Supreme Court’s temporary order leaves the legal dispute unresolved, and the ultimate authority will depend on the Court’s final ruling.