Washington — On Friday, August 7, 2026, a federal appeals court ruled that the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally demolish and rebuild the East Wing to construct a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The court emphasized that the $400 million project requires explicit congressional approval, stating that Congress holds "full constitutional control over federal property and the funding of its maintenance and development."

The judges noted an "absence of any express or implied authorization" granting President Trump the ability to proceed with the construction. They further remarked, "We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for."

President Trump responded swiftly, announcing plans to appeal the ruling directly to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a legal showdown over the ballroom's controversial construction.

The administration argued that halting the ballroom's construction would "severely jeopardize the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House," citing that the stoppage would impact the construction of an underground bunker included in the project. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also filed court documents urging the resumption of construction, referencing a recent attempted attack at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April as underscoring the need for a secure ballroom on White House grounds.

Arden Farhi, managing editor for CBS News' Washington bureau, who has covered multiple presidential campaigns and administrations, reported on the appeals court decision and the ensuing legal developments.

Sources