President Donald Trump called a federal appeals court decision halting construction of a $400 million White House ballroom a national disgrace. In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said the ruling came after much of the work was completed and funded, adding that it represents a top-level threat to national security.
On Friday, the court decided that the Trump administration cannot continue construction without securing approval from Congress. The ruling effectively upheld a previous court order that suspended work on the project. The lawsuit was filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Ballroom Details and Legal Arguments
The plan involves building a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the former East Wing of the White House, which was demolished to clear space for the new building. The appeals court majority ruled that a president cannot make major and permanent changes to a historic federal building without congressional involvement.
The decision will not take effect immediately because the judges suspended it for 14 days to allow the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Trump administration defended the project on national security grounds, saying the new building would contain advanced protection systems and serve as a safe space during threats. The court ruled that security arguments do not relieve the executive branch of its obligation to get congressional approval.
The White House first announced the ballroom project in the summer of 2025, stating that the existing complex did not have enough room for official events hosting hundreds of guests.
