Appeals court rules Trump can't build White House ballroom without congressional approval

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must cease construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House unless Congress approves the project, marking another legal setback for the administration’s ambitious infrastructure plans. The decision, delivered by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, stated that Trump lacks the authority to unilaterally proceed with the project, which involves demolishing part of the existing East Wing and erecting a massive new structure on its site. The ruling came after a lower court had previously halted aboveground work on the ballroom, citing concerns over the project’s legality. The appeals court upheld that decision, emphasizing that the construction requires congressional approval under the Constitution and relevant statutes. The court noted that while it did not determine whether the ballroom itself was desirable, the process of constructing it without legislative backing was unconstitutional. The case was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization that challenged the project on grounds of historical integrity and legal procedure. The trust argued that the White House, as a national landmark, required special protections and that altering its structure without congressional consent violated established protocols. The court agreed, stating that such decisions should not rest solely with the executive branch. In response, Trump criticized the ruling as “unjust” and vowed to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. On social media, he cited a dissenting opinion written by Judge Neomi Rao, whom he appointed to the court. Trump highlighted the project’s purported security functions, including bomb shelters, medical facilities, and top-secret military installations, describing them as essential to national defense. He claimed the ruling posed a threat to national security by preventing the completion of the complex. This latest legal challenge follows another controversy involving Trump’s construction initiatives. Earlier this week, the National Park Service raised concerns that a proposed 250-foot-tall triumphal arch near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery could undermine the historical significance of surrounding sites. These issues underscore a pattern of projects facing scrutiny over their impact on national heritage and compliance with legal standards. The administration had previously argued that the ballroom’s funding comes from private contributions rather than public funds, thus bypassing the need for congressional approval. However, officials had sought $1 billion for the project, which Congress rejected in May. In June, Democratic lawmakers alleged that $350 million from a tax cut law had been diverted to fund security upgrades at the White House, including the ballroom. The National Trust for Historic Preservation praised the court’s decision, calling it a reaffirmation of the public’s ability to influence decisions regarding historically significant sites. Brent Leggs, the trust’s president and CEO, emphasized that the law clearly mandates congressional authorization for such construction, aligning with longstanding practices that safeguard the White House’s status as a national treasure. With the appeals court granting a temporary stay of its ruling, the Trump administration now faces a two-week window to file its appeal to the Supreme Court. The outcome of this appeal will likely shape the legal landscape around presidential authority and the role of Congress in approving major infrastructure projects within the White House.