On Friday, August 7th, 2026, the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House. The court, in a 2-1 decision, sided with historic preservationists who sued to stop the project, which has already begun rising aboveground on the east side of the White House where the historic East Wing once stood before its demolition last fall.

The appeals court agreed with a lower court ruling that such a significant overhaul of the White House requires explicit congressional consent. The court stated, “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.” It emphasized that the defendants cannot proceed without Congress’s authorization as mandated by the Constitution and laws.

The ruling will be stayed for two weeks to allow the administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court. President Donald Trump condemned the decision as "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful" and vowed to appeal. While several of Trump's other construction projects, including a proposed 76-metre-tall triumphal arch, have faced legal challenges, this ballroom project is the first to reach the Supreme Court.

Sources