WASHINGTON — A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of a proposed $400 million White House ballroom, ruling that major changes to the presidential residence require authorization from Congress.
The 2-1 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction sought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the administration’s decision to demolish the White House East Wing and proceed with construction without congressional approval.
“Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House,” the majority wrote, concluding that the president cannot fundamentally reshape the complex without legislative authorization. The judges said whether a large ballroom should be built was for Congress to decide rather than through unilateral executive action.
The court placed its ruling on hold for 14 days, giving the administration time to seek review by the U.S. Supreme Court. President Donald Trump said he would appeal, describing the ruling as politically motivated and arguing that the project was necessary for national security.
Trump has said the planned facility would include security measures including bomb shelters, medical facilities and protection against drones and missiles. His administration has also argued that the ballroom is needed to accommodate large formal events and improve security at the White House.
Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth argued during appeals court proceedings in June that the courts should not block the privately funded project, saying national security concerns outweighed the preservation arguments advanced by the National Trust. The administration has maintained that the ballroom itself would be financed privately.
The appeals court majority rejected the argument that national security automatically permitted the administration to bypass legal requirements. It said its decision did not permanently prohibit construction but required the administration to obtain congressional approval before proceeding with the above-ground project.
Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, dissented. She argued that the lower court had exceeded the proper role of the federal judiciary by halting construction and that work should be allowed to continue.
The dispute began after the administration demolished the East Wing and started work on the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had previously blocked above-ground construction while allowing certain underground work to continue.
The appeals court’s 14-day pause leaves the administration with a limited window to seek Supreme Court intervention while the legal challenge continues.
