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A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to build the structure without congressional approval. The decision, issued by a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, upholds an earlier injunction and marks a significant setback for the president, who has championed the project as necessary for security and large formal events.
The court's ruling is stayed for 14 days to allow the administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump has confirmed his team will be "immediately appealing" the decision.
Coverage comparison
The story was covered by multiple international outlets, including ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and The Hindu. All report that the appeals court, in a 2-1 ruling, upheld a preliminary injunction obtained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued last year after the administration demolished the White House's East Wing and began construction without seeking congressional authorization.
The court's majority opinion, written by Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia, states that "each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House" and cannot fundamentally reshape it without congressional approval. The opinion further declares, "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help."
Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle highlight Trump's pledge to appeal to the Supreme Court, while ABC Australia and The Hindu emphasize the project's cost and the East Wing's demolition. France 24 reports that government lawyers argued the project includes critical security features, a point Trump stressed in his public response.
Key claims
The court's ruling halts above-ground construction on the ballroom pending the outcome of litigation and until the administration obtains congressional authorization. The panel's majority said the order does not permanently bar construction but rather pauses work during the lawsuit.
Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee who initially blocked above-ground construction in April, had earlier ruled that no federal statute "comes close to giving the President" the required authority for the project. The appeals court upheld that decision.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued in December 2025, said the project would cause "permanent and irreversible harm" to the White House's historic and architectural interests. National Trust President Brent Leggs called the ruling "a great day for our country" in a statement.
Trump, in a social media post, blasted the decision as "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful" and said the ballroom plan includes bomb shelters, medical facilities, shielding from drones and missiles, and other security features. He described the project as a "military centre" and argued that halting construction exposes those at the White House to attack.