Washington — On Friday, August 7th, 2026, a federal appeals court determined 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 $400 million project, the court ruled, 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 found an "absence of any express or implied authorization" allowing President Trump to proceed with the construction. They further 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, which could lead to a high-profile legal battle over the ballroom's construction.

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 work would affect the 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 evidence of the need for a secure ballroom on White House grounds.

Arden Farhi, managing editor for CBS News' Washington bureau, noted the significance of the ruling in the context of presidential authority and congressional oversight.

Sources