A US federal appeals court on August 8, 2026, upheld a preliminary injunction that halts construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with historic preservationists who sued to stop the project. The National Trust for Historic Preservation won the injunction after the Trump administration demolished the historic East Wing and began building the 90,000-square-foot ballroom without congressional authorization.

Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the court's decision a “National Security Threat at the highest level.” He asserted, “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, in a March opinion, noted concerns about the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President due to incomplete construction, stating the existence of a “large hole” beside the White House was a problem of the President’s own making.

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

Trump has vowed to immediately appeal the court's decision to the Supreme Court.

Sources