U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Trump's $400 Million White House Ballroom Project

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 — A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to halt construction of a proposed $400 million White House ballroom, upholding a lower court ruling that found the project could not proceed without congressional approval.

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit backed a preliminary injunction obtained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the administration's decision to demolish the White House East Wing and begin construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

The appeals court suspended its ruling for 14 days, giving the Trump administration time to seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The dispute centers on whether the president has the authority to undertake such a major construction project without authorization from Congress.

Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that federal law does not grant the president the authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval. While he blocked above-ground construction, he allowed underground work to continue.

The Trump administration has argued that the ballroom is needed to host large official events and improve security at the White House. Government lawyers told the court that the project is privately funded and should not require judicial intervention.

Lawyers representing the National Trust for Historic Preservation argued that the administration bypassed Congress and failed to follow the legal process required for major changes to the historic White House complex.

The ballroom project is one of several initiatives launched by President Trump to reshape federal buildings and public landmarks in Washington. Trump has defended the project's rising cost, saying the expanded design would result in a larger, higher-quality and more secure facility.