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 emphasized that President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to make such a fundamental change to the White House without congressional authorization, stating, “What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorisation, as the Constitution and laws require.”

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.

Government lawyers have defended the project, describing it as the largest structural change to the White House in over 70 years and asserting that it includes critical security features designed to protect against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards.

President Trump responded on social media, calling the ruling “unjust” and announced plans to appeal to the US Supreme Court. He also stated that “The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents.”

The appeals court has stayed its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration time to seek an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Sources