On Friday, August 7th, 2026, a federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. The project, planned on the site of the demolished East Wing, was halted because President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to make such a significant structural change without Congress's consent.

The three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision siding with historic preservationists who had sued to stop the construction. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit in December 2025, shortly after the East Wing was demolished to make way for the ballroom, which Trump said would accommodate 999 people.

The court stated it would stay its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court. Trump announced on social media that he would appeal what he described as an "unjust decision."

Government lawyers have defended the project, calling it the biggest structural change to the White House in over 70 years and emphasizing its critical security features designed to protect against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards.

In response to the ruling, Trump wrote that the Military and Secret Service view the decision as a national security threat, asserting the complex is essential for the protection of the country and future presidents.

Sources