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last mo.

Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s White House Ballroom Without Congressional Approval

Preserving limited below‑ground security work, the ruling gives the administration 14 days to seek emergency review at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Construction continues on the White House helipad, left, and ballroom, right, on August 7, in Washington.
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Construction of a ballroom at the White House seen from a window at the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 4, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
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Overview

  • A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction on Friday, Aug. 7, ordering a halt to all above‑ground work on the privately proposed $400 million, 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom.
  • The majority wrote that presidents are “temporary tenants” of the White House and found that Congress, not the President alone, must authorize major permanent changes to the Executive Residence.
  • The court stayed its order for 14 days to allow the administration to seek emergency relief at the Supreme Court while explicitly permitting continued below‑ground construction for bunkers and other security infrastructure.
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation brought the suit after the East Wing was demolished in October 2025 and the ruling leaves the project’s fate to either congressional authorization or further judicial review.
  • If the Supreme Court declines review or upholds the ruling, Congress would control whether the ballroom proceeds and taxpayers and preservationists could see lasting limits on unilateral presidential changes to federal landmarks.