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 involves building an 8,400-square-metre ballroom on the site where the White House’s East Wing once stood before its demolition.

The three-judge panel from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in a 2-1 decision siding with historic preservationists who had sued to halt the project. The court stated that President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to make such a fundamental change to the White House without congressional authorization.

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 claimed would accommodate 999 people.

The court said 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 called an “unjust decision.”

Government lawyers have argued that the ballroom project, the largest structural change to the White House in over 70 years, includes vital 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, emphasizing that the complex is intended to protect the country and future presidents.

Sources