On Friday, August 7, 2026, a federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, citing the lack of congressional authorization. The project involves building an 8,400-square-metre ballroom on the site where the White House’s East Wing once stood before its demolition.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, sided with historic preservationists who had sued to halt the construction. The National Trust for Historic Preservation initiated the lawsuit in December 2025, shortly after the East Wing was demolished to make way for the ballroom, which Trump claimed would accommodate 999 people.

The court emphasized that the president does not have unilateral authority to make such significant structural changes to the White House without Congress's approval. It stayed its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

President Trump responded on social media, calling the decision "unjust" and announcing plans to appeal to the Supreme Court. He also described the ruling as "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful," stating that the Military and Secret Service view it as a national security threat because the complex is designed to protect the country and future presidents.

Government lawyers have argued that the ballroom project represents the most significant structural change to the White House in over 70 years and includes critical security features to defend against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards.

Sources