Appeals Court Halts Trump Administration’s White House Ballroom Project

The Trump administration’s plans for a $400 million ballroom at the White House have been put on pause. A federal appeals court ruled on Friday that the construction cannot proceed without congressional approval. The proposed ballroom was to replace the East Wing, which was demolished by order of then-President Donald Trump.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, sided with historic preservationists who filed a lawsuit to stop the project. The court has given the administration two weeks to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,
This holding has nothing to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable or not as a matter of policy.

This decision does not prevent the construction of the ballroom permanently; rather, it emphasizes the need for congressional approval. The court upheld a previous decision by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who ordered a halt to above-ground construction activities. However, he allowed ongoing below-ground work for national security facilities at the site.

President Trump criticized Judge Leon’s ruling on social media, accusing him of undermining national security and delaying the project, which Trump called a “great gift to America.” The panel of judges included Patricia Millett, nominated by President Obama, Neomi Rao, nominated by Trump, and Bradley Garcia, nominated by President Biden. Millett and Garcia supported the decision, while Rao opposed it.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation had challenged the construction in 2025, after the East Wing’s demolition. The government argued that the project included crucial security measures against various threats. They claimed these improvements were essential for the safety of the President and the White House.

Preservation attorneys argued that the absence of a ballroom did not constitute a security emergency. Judge Leon’s initial ruling required congressional approval for above-ground work. The appeals court asked him to reassess the security concerns related to halting construction.

The latest ruling allowed for below-ground work to continue, including potential bunkers and medical facilities. Judge Leon clarified that the entire project does not fall under a safety-and-security exception that would allow it to proceed without restrictions.

The National Capital Planning Commission had previously approved the ballroom on April 2, under its jurisdiction for construction on federal property in the Washington area.