A federal appeals court on Friday, August 7th, 2026, ruled that the Trump White House lacks the authority to unilaterally construct a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood. The court found that the $400 million project requires congressional approval, emphasizing that Congress has "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 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 quickly responded, saying he would appeal the ruling directly to the Supreme Court, setting up a legal showdown over the controversial ballroom construction.

The administration argued that halting work on the ballroom would "severely jeopardize the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House," citing the impact on 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, has covered multiple presidential campaigns and administrations, including those of Obama, Trump, and Biden.

Sources