Appeals Court Blocks White House Ballroom Construction; Trump Vows Supreme Court Appeal

A federal appeals court on Friday ordered the Trump administration to halt above-ground construction of a planned White House ballroom, ruling that the president lacks unilateral authority to undertake the project without congressional approval.

In a 2-1 decision, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a lower court injunction against the roughly $400 million project. The majority held that fundamentally reshaping the White House complex, including demolition of the East Wing and construction of a large new ballroom, requires explicit authorization from Congress. “Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence,” the majority wrote. “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.”

Judges Patricia Millett, appointed by President Barack Obama, and Bradley Garcia, appointed by President Joe Biden, formed the majority. Judge Neomi Rao, appointed by President Trump, dissented. The panel stayed its order for 14 days to give the administration time to seek review by the Supreme Court. Construction has continued under earlier stays while litigation proceeded.

The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, which challenged the administration’s authority to proceed without legislative approval. A lower court had previously limited work, allowing some underground construction deemed necessary for security purposes while blocking the main above-ground ballroom structure. The appeals court decision reinforces the requirement for congressional consent for the broader project.

President Trump responded sharply on Truth Social, describing the ruling as “horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful.” He stated that the administration would immediately appeal to the Supreme Court and called for the decision to be overturned in its entirety. Trump framed the ballroom as a national security matter, arguing it is needed to provide a secure venue for formal events and the protection of the country and future presidents. He noted that the military and Secret Service view the court action as a threat to security considerations surrounding the complex.

The ballroom project, estimated at about 90,000 square feet, has been a priority for Trump. It involves significant alterations to the White House grounds following the demolition of portions of the East Wing. The president has increasingly described the facility as essential for secure gatherings, citing past security incidents involving presidential events.

The case tests the limits of executive authority over the White House property, which is maintained for the use of successive administrations and the American people. With the appeals court stay in place, the administration has a two-week window to file its petition with the Supreme Court. The outcome will determine whether construction of the ballroom can proceed or whether congressional legislation is required before further work advances.