A US federal appeals court has halted construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with historic preservationists who sued to stop the project. The ballroom, spanning 90,000 square feet (8,400 square meters), 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, which filed the lawsuit last year. District court judge Richard Leon had previously noted in a March opinion that the incomplete construction posed concerns about the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President, describing the existence of a “large hole” beside the White House as a problem created by the President himself.

In response, former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling the decision a “National Security Threat at the highest level.” He emphasized that presidents, elected by the American people, have rights including the ability to fix, renovate, secure, protect, and beautify the White House grounds. Trump described the halted ballroom project as “a gift” to the US people and criticized the decision as occurring after much of the work had 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, referencing those held by private corporations like GEO Group. Meanwhile, 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.

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