A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop above‑ground construction on a $400 million ballroom planned for the former East Wing of the White House, ruling that only Congress can authorize such a project and pausing work pending a possible Supreme Court appeal.
The 2‑1 decision by the D.C. Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Richard Leon, who barred above‑ground work while allowing underground security facilities to continue. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued, and Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia wrote the majority opinion; Judge Neomi Rao dissented, questioning the Trust’s standing. The administration claims private donations from firms like Amazon and Lockheed Martin will fund the project, while it has also asked Congress for $1 billion, a request that was denied.
The ruling reinforces congressional control over alterations to the White House, meaning construction contracts and related supply chains will remain idle until legislative approval is secured. The pause also adds political risk for donors and may affect market sentiment toward firms linked to the project, while the legal outcome could set precedent for future executive‑branch building initiatives.
Reports differ on the financing: some cite a $400 million privately funded budget, others note a $1 billion congressional request and a claim that $350 million from a tax‑cut law may have been redirected to the ballroom, highlighting uncertainty over the true cost and funding sources.