WASHINGTON — On Friday, August 7, 2026, a United States federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to halt 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 divided 2-1 decision, upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sued to stop the project.

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 before its demolition. The judges emphasized that whether such a massive ballroom should be constructed is a decision for Congress, not the Executive branch, stating, “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.”

The ruling upheld an earlier April 16 order by US District Judge Richard Leon that halted above-ground construction, though underground work had been allowed to continue. The appeals court stayed its ruling for 14 days to permit the administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit in December 2025, shortly after the East Wing was demolished to make way for the ballroom, which Trump said would accommodate 999 people.

Government lawyers have argued that the project, the largest structural change to the White House in over 70 years, includes critical security features designed to protect against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards. Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth contended during court arguments that the courts should not intervene in the privately funded project and that national security concerns outweigh architectural preferences.

Trump defended the ballroom and its increased cost, stating on Truth Social that the project is "approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal" and promised it "will be magnificent, safe, and secure!"

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

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