A US federal appeals court has halted the construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with historic preservationists who challenged the project. The ballroom, spanning 90,000 square feet (8,400 square meters), was initiated by the Trump administration after tearing down the historic East Wing without congressional authorization.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation won a preliminary injunction against the construction, which the court upheld. The group had filed the lawsuit last year, arguing the project violated preservation laws.

Donald Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the court's 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.”

District court judge Richard Leon, in a March opinion, noted concerns about the safety and security of the White House grounds due to the incomplete construction, describing the existence of a "large hole" beside the White House as a problem of the President's own making.

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the state's duty to uphold 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.

Sources

Guardian US