Appeals Court Blocks Trump Ballroom

A federal appeals court on Friday blocked most construction on President Trump’s planned White House ballroom, ruling in a 2-1 decision that the project cannot move forward without congressional approval.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ordered that above-ground construction must stop immediately, though it allowed certain below-ground work to continue, including installations Trump has argued are necessary for security purposes.

The court found that Congress retains authority over funding and major development projects at the White House and has not authorized the ballroom project.

Trump quickly vowed to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court. The appeals court temporarily paused its order for two weeks, giving the high court time to decide whether it will intervene.

“We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for. Until now,” the majority wrote in its opinion.

The ruling split along ideological lines. Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia formed the majority, while Judge Neomi Rao dissented.

Rao argued that the preservation group challenging the project lacked legal standing and that the courts had overstepped their authority by intervening in White House construction decisions.

“The district court seized supervision of construction at the White House, and my colleagues affirm this judicial overreach,” Rao wrote. “Because the injunction is beyond the proper province of the federal courts, construction should be allowed to continue.”

Trump launched the ballroom project after removing the East Wing last year to make room for a proposed 90,000-square-foot facility. The ballroom is one of several major redevelopment efforts undertaken by the president during his second term as part of a broader effort to reshape Washington, D.C.

Other projects, including changes involving the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a proposed arch and a new golf course, have also faced legal challenges.

The president has repeatedly argued that the ballroom is needed for national security, citing recent threats and security concerns around presidential events. Trump has also maintained that congressional approval is unnecessary because the project is being funded through private donations rather than taxpayer dollars.

The ballroom is expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, with major corporations and private donors contributing to the effort.

In a lengthy Truth Social post following the ruling, Trump blasted the decision and announced plans to seek immediate review from the Supreme Court.

“We will be immediately appealing to the United States Supreme Court,” Trump wrote, calling the ruling politically motivated and arguing that the project is designed to improve security for the White House and future presidents.

While the court halted most visible construction, it allowed underground work tied to security upgrades to continue. Trump has previously said those plans include a drone facility and other military-related infrastructure.

The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues the administration cannot proceed without congressional authorization.

Attorneys representing the group welcomed the ruling, saying it reinforces the principle that presidents must follow the same legal requirements as other branches of government when undertaking major federal construction projects.

The group is now urging the administration to suspend all remaining work until the legal battle is fully resolved or Congress formally approves the project.