A US federal appeals court has halted construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with historic preservationists who challenged the project. The court upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which 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 stated, “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 the incomplete construction posed concerns for the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President. He remarked that the existence of a “large hole” beside the White House was a problem of the President’s own making.

Separately, New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport emphasized the state's duty to uphold civil rights, including humane treatment and adequate medical care for detained individuals, including those held by private corporations. Oregon’s Democratic governor, Tina Kotek, expressed support for locally set moratoriums on new data center construction, following the city of Hillsboro's recent temporary prohibition.

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