Appeals Court Upholds Halt to Trump’s White House Ballroom

Overview

• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia maintained a suspension of the project on Friday, keeping work stopped while the legal fight continues.
• The court said its decision rests on separation of powers and the lack of congressional authorization rather than on the merits of the ballroom itself.
• The National Trust for Historic Preservation brought the lawsuit challenging the build, which followed an October demolition of a White House wing to make room for a 1,000-person ballroom.
• Photographs from late July showed a concrete slab, low structures and cranes on site but those works are effectively paused by the court order.
• President Trump said on Truth Social he will seek immediate review by the Supreme Court and described the ruling as political while the administration defends the project as privately funded and tied to security needs.