US President Donald Trump was ordered on Friday, August 7th, 2026, to halt construction of a new ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sued Trump over the project last year.

Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia, both appointed by Democratic presidents, clarified that the order does not permanently bar construction but suspends above-ground work during the lawsuit until the White House obtains congressional approval. The court emphasized that "Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House" and cannot fundamentally reshape it without Congress's consent.

The ruling represents a significant setback for Trump, who has promoted the ballroom as a necessary venue for hosting events. Work on the 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) ballroom began last year following the swift demolition of the White House's historic East Wing.

Trump criticized the decision as a "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling" and announced that his team will "immediately appeal" to the US Supreme Court. The court's ruling has been stayed for 14 days to allow the appeal process.

The judges noted that whether a massive ballroom should be constructed is a decision for Congress, not for unilateral executive action. The White House stated that Congress has not granted the Executive Branch unfettered authority to dramatically redesign the People's House to suit a particular president's desires.

Sources