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 determined that the $400 million project requires 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" for 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 high-profile legal battle over the ballroom's controversial construction.

The project has also raised safety concerns. President Trump claimed 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," due to its connection with an underground bunker included in the plans.

Additionally, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued in court filings that construction should resume, citing 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, who has covered multiple presidential campaigns and administrations, reported on the ruling and its implications.

Sources