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 ballroom, spanning 90,000 square feet (8,400 square meters), was being built after the Trump administration tore down the historic East Wing without seeking congressional authorization.

The court's order upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had filed the lawsuit last year. District court judge Richard Leon noted in a March opinion that any incomplete construction poses concerns about the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President, adding that the existence of a "large hole" beside the White House is a problem of the President's own making.

In response, former President Donald Trump called the decision a "National Security Threat at the highest level" in a post on Truth Social. 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. This decision, made after much of the work has been done and paid for, is a National Security Threat at the highest level."

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the state's duty to protect civil rights, particularly for detained individuals, including those held by private corporations like GEO Group, highlighting the right to humane treatment and adequate medical care.

Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek expressed support for locally set moratoriums on new data center construction, noting the city of Hillsboro recently enacted such a temporary prohibition.

Sources