US appeals court blocks White House ballroom construction over authority concerns
A three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has halted the $400 million project, citing constitutional requirements for legislative authorisation of major structural changes.
A US federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that the president lacks the unilateral authority to fundamentally reshape the building without congressional approval. The three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision siding with historic preservationists who challenged the project. The court stayed its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court. The decision upholds a lower court order stopping above-ground work on the ballroom, though construction of below-ground security facilities may continue.
The appeals court explicitly stated that the decision does not address the desirability of the ballroom as a matter of policy, but rather the constitutional requirement for congressional authorisation. The National Trust for Historic Preservation initiated the lawsuit in December 2025, following the demolition of the White House’s East Wing in late 2025. The National Capital Planning Commission granted final approval for the ballroom project on April 2, 2026.
Government lawyers argued the project includes essential security features against drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards, while preservationists countered that the lack of a ballroom does not constitute a national security emergency. President Trump has publicly criticised District Judge Richard Leon, describing him as a “Trump Hating” judge who is undermining national security.
The proposed ballroom is an 8,400-square-metre structure intended to seat 999 people, representing the most significant structural change to the White House in over 70 years. The East Wing was demolished to make way for the new construction. Judge Richard Leon, who issued the initial lower-court order, was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush.
The appeals panel includes Judges nominated by different administrations: Patricia Millett by Democratic President Barack Obama, Neomi Rao by Donald Trump, and Bradley Garcia by Democratic President Joe Biden.
