On Friday, August 7th, 2026, a federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. The project, planned on the site of the demolished East Wing, was halted because President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to undertake such a significant structural change without congressional approval.

The three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision siding with historic preservationists who had sued to block the construction. 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.

The court stated it would stay its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court. Trump responded on social media, calling the decision "unjust" and announcing plans to appeal. He also described the ruling as "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful," citing concerns from the Military and Secret Service about national security threats, emphasizing that the complex is designed to protect the country and future presidents.

Government lawyers have argued that the ballroom project represents the biggest structural change to the White House in over 70 years and includes critical security features to defend against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards.

The court emphasized that the Constitution and laws require congressional authorization for such fundamental changes to the White House, stating, “Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorisation.”

Sources