A divided federal appeals court panel determined that President Trump’s administration cannot proceed with constructing a White House ballroom without authorization from Congress, according to a ruling issued this week. The 2-1 decision upheld a lower court’s earlier order halting aboveground construction on the 90,000-square-foot facility, which was planned to replace the East Wing after its demolition last fall.
The court rejected arguments that the president possessed unilateral authority to undertake the project, stating that decisions about major structural changes to the White House belong to Congress rather than the executive branch. The panel emphasized that its ruling concerned process rather than the project’s merit, noting that the administration could ultimately build the ballroom if it secured proper legislative approval. The court stayed its order for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Trump administration has argued that congressional authorization is unnecessary because the project is being funded through private donations from corporations and wealthy individuals rather than public appropriations. However, the administration had previously requested $1 billion from Congress for the ballroom, a request that was refused. Democrats have also raised concerns that approximately $350 million in funds from a tax cuts law may have been redirected to White House security initiatives, including the ballroom project.
Government lawyers contended that the construction must proceed because it incorporates critical national security upgrades, including defenses against drones and ballistic missiles. The lower court allowed underground construction to continue on bunkers and other security facilities while blocking aboveground work. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit in December 2025, welcomed the decision, asserting that only Congress holds authority to approve White House construction projects.
The president characterized the ruling as politically motivated and pledged to pursue an appeal to the Supreme Court, citing national security concerns. The case has become the second high-profile construction controversy for the administration this week, following concerns raised by the National Park Service regarding a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI