WASHINGTON, D.C. — August 7, 2026 —
A U.S. federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to stop construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that the president cannot fundamentally reshape the historic building without approval from Congress.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 on Friday, upholding a preliminary injunction that had been obtained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization sued after the administration demolished the White House's East Wing and began construction of the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom without first obtaining congressional authorization.
The appeals court's majority emphasized that the White House belongs to the public rather than to the sitting president. The judges wrote that each president is a "temporary tenant, not the owner" and cannot fundamentally alter the building without congressional approval.
The court did not permanently prohibit construction of the ballroom. Instead, it ordered that above-ground construction remain halted while the legal case continues and until the administration obtains congressional approval.
The court also placed its ruling on hold for 14 days, giving the Trump administration time to seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court. President Donald Trump has already said his administration will appeal.
Trump Defends Ballroom as a Security Project
Trump has increasingly portrayed the ballroom as a matter of national security. On Friday, he described the planned structure as a "military center" and argued that it would protect the president, White House officials and visitors from potential attacks.
According to Trump, the project would incorporate bomb shelters, medical facilities and protection against drones and missiles. He called the appeals court's ruling politically motivated and said it should be overturned by the Supreme Court.
The Justice Department made a similar national-security argument during earlier proceedings. Government attorney Yaakov Roth argued that courts should not prevent the administration from proceeding with a privately funded project when national security concerns were involved.
However, the appeals court rejected the idea that national-security claims automatically allow the executive branch to bypass legal requirements. The majority said national security is not an automatic exemption from the law.
National Trust Welcomes the Decision
National Trust for Historic Preservation President Brent Leggs welcomed the ruling, describing it as an important victory for the public's ability to have a say in decisions involving historic places, including the White House.
The case has become part of a broader legal and political dispute over Trump's efforts to reshape major landmarks and government properties in Washington.
A separate lawsuit recently resulted in a judge ruling that Trump's name had been illegally added to the exterior of the Kennedy Center, with the judge ordering its removal.
Court Split Over Trump’s Authority
The appeals court's decision was not unanimous. Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, dissented.
Rao argued that the lower court had exceeded the proper role of the federal judiciary by interfering with construction at the White House. She said construction should have been allowed to continue.
The cost of Trump's ballroom project has also become a point of controversy. Reuters reported that the projected price has doubled from earlier estimates. Trump has defended the increased cost, saying the ballroom is approximately twice the size of the original proposal and will be built to a higher standard.
For now, construction of the above-ground portion of the project is blocked. The administration has 14 days to seek Supreme Court review, meaning the final fate of Trump's proposed White House ballroom remains unresolved.