A federal appeals court has ordered President Donald Trump to halt the $400 million White House ballroom project, upholding a preliminary injunction and pausing above‑ground work while the administration seeks Supreme Court review. The decision follows a 2‑1 ruling by the D.C. Circuit and keeps construction on hold pending the appeal.
The majority opinion was authored by Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Brad Garcia, a Biden appointee, who affirmed the March injunction issued by Judge Richard J. Leon. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued after the administration demolished the historic East Wing and began a 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom that would house security facilities, a bunker and other upgrades. Trump says the $400 million, privately funded project is backed by donors such as Amazon, Palantir, Lockheed Martin and Coinbase.
The pause means no above‑ground construction can proceed until Congress authorizes the redesign, reinforcing the principle that major alterations to the White House require legislative approval. Lawmakers may consider introducing a bill to grant the needed authority, while preservationists view the ruling as a victory for public oversight of historic landmarks. The dispute highlights limits on executive self‑help in federal property management.
Judge Neomi Rao dissented, arguing the National Trust lacks standing and that the president’s security and event‑hosting needs outweigh preservation concerns. Trump’s team maintains the ballroom is a national‑security imperative, citing upgrades against drones, missiles and biohazards, a claim the majority rejected as insufficient to bypass legal requirements.