A federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to halt all construction of its $400 million White House ballroom until it receives congressional approval. The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit initially allowed construction to continue while reviewing the case but later agreed with a lower court that such a significant overhaul of the White House requires explicit consent from Congress.

In a 2-1 decision on August 7, 2026, the appeals court sided with historic preservationists who sued to stop the construction of the massive 8,400-square-metre ballroom. The structure has begun to rise aboveground on the east side of the White House, where the historic East Wing once stood before its demolition was ordered by Trump last fall.

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 ruling does not address the desirability of the ballroom but insists that the defendants cannot proceed without Congress’s authorization as required by the Constitution and laws.

The court also said it would stay its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court. President Donald Trump criticized the decision, calling it "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful," and vowed to appeal.

Several of Trump's other construction projects, including a proposed 76-metre-tall triumphal arch, have faced legal challenges, but this ballroom project is the first to reach the Supreme Court.

Sources