Washington — On Friday, August 7th, 2026, a federal appeals court determined that the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the former East Wing. The court found that the $400 million project requires explicit congressional approval, emphasizing 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" permitting President Trump to proceed with the construction. They stated, "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 that his administration will appeal the ruling directly to the Supreme Court, setting the stage for a legal showdown over the controversial ballroom project.

The administration has argued that halting construction jeopardizes the safety of White House staff, citing concerns that stopping work on the ballroom would impact the construction of an underground bunker included in the project. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also urged the court to allow construction to resume, referencing a recent attempted attack at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April as underscoring the need for a secure ballroom on the grounds.

This ruling focuses solely on the legal authority to build the ballroom and does not address whether the project is desirable as a matter of policy.

Sources

About the Author

Arden Farhi is the managing editor for CBS News' Washington bureau and has covered multiple presidential campaigns and administrations. He has earned several awards including two Emmys and a DuPont Award.