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Court orders halt to Trump’s US$400 million White House ballroom
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction, with a 14-day pause to allow an appeal to the US Supreme Court.
A US federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to stop construction on a US$400 million White House ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing, dealing a major setback in a case over presidential authority.
The Washington-based US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a divided 2-1 decision, upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The group sued after the administration tore down the East Wing and began building a 90,000 square feet ballroom without seeking authorization from Congress.
The court’s majority said Congress has not ceded “unfettered authority” to the executive branch to redesign and reconstruct the White House, describing such choices as matters for Congress. Reuters reported that the ruling was placed on hold for 14 days so the administration can appeal to the US Supreme Court.
Reuters also said a US District Judge, Richard Leon, had twice blocked above-ground construction while allowing underground work to continue, and the White House and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The administration has said the ballroom is needed for large formal functions and to preserve White House safety.