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 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 court ruled that President Donald Trump does not have the unilateral authority to make such a significant alteration to the White House without congressional authorization. The court stated, “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 said 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 emphasizing its critical security features designed to protect against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards.

In response to the ruling, Trump posted on social media that he would appeal the “unjust decision” to the US Supreme Court. He also wrote that the Military and Secret Service view the ruling as a national security threat, asserting that the entire complex is intended to protect the country and future presidents.

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

Sources