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 (8,400-square-meter) 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 seeking 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 noted in a March opinion that any incomplete construction posed concerns about the "safety and security of the White House grounds and the President himself," adding that the "existence of a ‘large hole’ beside the White House is, of course, a problem of the President’s own making."

In response, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social calling the court's decision a "National Security Threat at the highest level." He emphasized that "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."

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport highlighted the state's duty to protect civil rights, particularly for detained individuals, including those held by private corporations like GEO Group, emphasizing 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, following the city of Hillsboro's recent temporary prohibition on such developments.

Sources