A federal appeals court ruled on Friday, August 7, 2026, that the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally build a new 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.

The judges emphasized that Congress holds "full constitutional control over federal property and the funding of its maintenance and development," and noted an "absence of any express or implied authorization" allowing 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 plans to appeal the ruling directly to the Supreme Court, setting up a legal showdown over the controversial ballroom project.

The administration argued that halting the ballroom's construction "severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House," citing that stopping the project would impact the construction of an underground bunker included in the plans. 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 the grounds.

Arden Farhi, managing editor for CBS News' Washington bureau, who has covered multiple presidential campaigns and administrations, reported on the court's decision and its implications.

Sources