A US federal appeals court has halted construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with historic preservationists who sued to stop the project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation won a preliminary injunction against the construction, which began after the Trump administration tore down the historic East Wing without congressional authorization.

Donald Trump criticized the ruling on Truth Social, calling it 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 incomplete construction poses concerns for the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President, highlighting the existence of a “large hole” beside the White House as a problem of the President’s own making.

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the state’s duty to uphold civil rights and humane treatment 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 Hillsboro’s recent temporary prohibition.

The appeals court’s decision places a two-week hold on the ballroom project, which Trump has repeatedly described as “a gift” to the American people.

Sources