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 National Trust for Historic Preservation won a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's plan to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom after the historic East Wing was torn down without congressional authorization.

Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the court's 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 while incomplete construction poses safety and security concerns for the White House and the President, the “existence of a ‘large hole’ beside the White House is, of course, a problem of the President’s own making.”

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the state's duty to protect 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 ruling underscores ongoing legal and political challenges surrounding the White House renovation project.

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