On Saturday, August 8th, 2026, a US federal appeals court upheld a preliminary injunction that halts construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. The ruling sided with historic preservationists who sued after the Trump administration demolished the historic East Wing and began building the 90,000-square-foot ballroom without congressional authorization.

Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the decision a “National Security Threat at the highest level.” He asserted, “We are not tenants, who pay rent and do all other things that a tenant must do, we are PRESIDENTS, elected by the people of the United States of America, and have many rights, including the right to fix, renovate, secure, protect, and beautify the White House grounds.”

District court judge Richard Leon had previously noted in a March opinion that incomplete construction poses concerns for the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President himself, stating that the “existence of a ‘large hole’ beside the White House is, of course, a problem of the President’s own making.”

The National Trust for Historic Preservation won the injunction, emphasizing the importance of protecting historic sites. The group had filed the lawsuit last year following the East Wing’s demolition.

In related comments, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport highlighted the state’s duty to uphold civil rights, particularly for detained individuals, including those held by private corporations. Meanwhile, Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek expressed support for locally set moratoriums on new data center construction, following Hillsboro’s recent temporary prohibition.

The appeals court ruling places a two-week hold on the controversial White House project as legal proceedings continue.

Sources