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.

The court ruling does not permanently bar the ballroom's construction but stops all above-ground work during the ongoing lawsuit until the White House obtains congressional approval. Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia, both appointed by Democratic presidents, 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 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) ballroom project began last year with the swift demolition of the White House's historic East Wing. Trump has promoted the ballroom as a necessary venue for hosting events.

Following the appeals court decision, Trump announced his team will "immediately appeal" to the US Supreme Court, condemning the ruling as a "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling." He also stated that the court "refused to acknowledge that the desperately needed, and totally secure Ballroom, which is being built ahead of schedule and under budget, is a Gift from President Trump and Great Patriots of the United States of America."

The court's injunction has been stayed for 14 days to allow the administration to seek Supreme Court review. The case highlights the legal boundaries of presidential authority over the White House, with the court noting that Congress has not granted the Executive Branch unfettered power to redesign the historic residence.

Sources