The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ordered the Donald Trump administration to halt above-ground construction of a planned $400 million ballroom at the White House. The ruling is a major setback for Trump’s effort to reshape the White House complex and has raised fresh questions over presidential authority.
Fact Check: What did the court order exactly?
A 2-1 panel of the federal appeals court upheld an earlier injunction that blocks above-ground construction of the proposed ballroom. The court said the administration cannot fundamentally change the White House site without approval from Congress.
The ruling does not permanently cancel the ballroom project. Instead, it stops above-ground construction while the legal dispute continues and until the administration obtains the required congressional approval.
The court has put its ruling on hold for 14 days, giving the Trump administration time to ask the US Supreme Court to review the case.
Why did the court stop the project?
The legal dispute began after the administration demolished the White House East Wing and started work on a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom without first seeking congressional authorization.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged the project in court, arguing that the administration did not have the legal authority to carry out such a major change to the White House complex.
The appeals court majority agreed that the president’s power does not allow the executive branch to independently make such a major structural change to the historic site.
The judges also rejected the argument that national security concerns automatically give the administration freedom to bypass legal requirements.
What does Trump say about the ballroom?
Trump has strongly defended the project and has said the ballroom is needed for security reasons as well as for large formal events.
He described the planned structure as a “military center” and said it would include security features such as bomb shelters, medical facilities and protection against drones and missiles.
Trump called the appeals court decision politically motivated and said his administration would appeal to the Supreme Court. He has also defended the project’s rising cost, saying the ballroom became larger and would be built to a higher standard than originally planned.
The estimated price has risen to about $400 million, roughly double the initial projection.
What happens next?
The immediate construction dispute is not over. The Trump administration now has 14 days to seek Supreme Court review. Until then, the appeals court ruling prevents above-ground construction from moving forward.
The case could become an important test of the limits of presidential power over the White House and other historic federal properties.
The appeals court was divided. Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia supported the halt, while Trump-appointed Judge Neomi Rao dissented and argued that federal courts had gone beyond their proper role.
For now, the key fact is clear: the appeals court has halted above-ground construction of Trump’s proposed White House ballroom; it has not permanently cancelled the project.
First published on: Aug 08, 2026 12:39 AM IST
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Sagar Puri
Sagar Puri is a seasoned Senior Sub-Editor with over four years of newsroom experience, bringing sharp editorial judgment and an eye for detail to every story he handles. Over the years, he has worked across a diverse range of beats, including sports, education, news desk, entertainment, and lifestyle, giving him a well-rounded understanding of the digital news ecosystem.
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