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 court upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued after the Trump administration demolished the historic East Wing and began building the ballroom without congressional authorization.

President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the 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.” Trump emphasized that much of the work had already been completed and paid for.

District court judge Richard Leon had previously expressed concerns in a March opinion 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.

The National Trust’s lawsuit followed the unauthorized demolition and construction efforts, highlighting legal and preservation issues.

Separately, New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport underscored 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.

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