Court Halts Trump's $400 Million White House Ballroom Project

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling on Friday halting the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House. The court upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, determining that Donald Trump cannot unilaterally demolish or redesign portions of the White House, specifically the East Wing, without explicit authorization from Congress.

While the court blocked all above-ground construction, it maintained a lower court's allowance for underground work. This exception covers projects related to national security, such as a hospital and bomb shelters. The ruling follows an initial injunction by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who noted that national security does not grant a blank check for unlawful activity.

President Trump has defended the project as necessary for security and formal functions, asserting that private donations fund the work. However, reports indicate that $350 million was transferred from the Secret Service for security upgrades. The court has paused its ruling for 14 days to allow the administration to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.