A US federal appeals court has halted the construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with historic preservationists who sued to stop the project. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which former President Donald Trump has described as “a gift” to the American people, was being built after the Trump administration tore down the historic East Wing without congressional authorization.

The court's order upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the group that filed the lawsuit last year. District court judge Richard Leon had previously expressed concerns about the safety and security risks posed by the incomplete construction, noting the existence of a “large hole” beside the White House as a problem of the President’s own making.

In response, Trump posted on Truth Social, calling the decision a “National Security Threat at the highest level.” He emphasized that presidents, elected by the people, have the right to “fix, renovate, secure, protect, and beautify the White House grounds,” and criticized the halt as occurring after much of the work had already been completed and paid for.

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport highlighted the state's duty to uphold civil rights, including humane treatment and adequate medical care for detained individuals. Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek expressed support for locally set moratoriums on new data center construction, following Hillsboro’s recent temporary prohibition.

The legal dispute underscores ongoing tensions over presidential authority, historic preservation, and federal oversight of the White House grounds.

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