WASHINGTON — On Friday, August 7, 2026, a federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing. The Washington-based US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sued after the East Wing was torn down and construction began without congressional authorization.

The court ruled that US President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to build an 8,360 to 8,400 square meter ballroom where the East Wing once stood. The panel upheld an April 16 order from US District Judge Richard Leon that blocked above-ground construction, while allowing underground work to continue.

The court emphasized that "whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help." It stayed its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

Government lawyers have argued the project, the largest structural change to the White House in over 70 years, includes critical security features to protect against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards. Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth stated during court arguments that the courts should not weigh in on the privately funded project and that blocking it was improper.

Historic preservationists countered that the absence of a ballroom does not constitute a national security emergency. Thaddeus Heuer, a lawyer for the preservation group, challenged the security rationale.

President Trump defended the ballroom and its cost, which has doubled from initial projections. In a Truth Social post last month, he said the increased cost was due to the ballroom being "approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal," promising that "it will be magnificent, safe, and secure!"

Separately, a judge recently ruled that Trump’s name was illegally added to the exterior of the Kennedy Center performing arts center and ordered its removal.

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