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 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom construction began after the Trump administration demolished 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 noted in a March opinion that the incomplete construction poses concerns about the safety and security of the White House grounds and the President, highlighting the existence of a "large hole" beside the White House as a problem of the President's own making.

In response, former President Donald Trump posted 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. This decision, made after much of the work has been done and paid for, is a National Security Threat at the highest level."

Separately, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the state's legal and moral duty to protect civil rights, including humane treatment and adequate medical care for detained individuals. Oregon’s Democratic Governor Tina Kotek expressed support for locally set moratoriums on new data center construction, following Hillsboro's recent temporary prohibition.

The appeals court ruling marks a significant legal setback for the Trump administration's White House renovation efforts.

Sources