A US federal judge has blocked Donald Trump from proceeding with construction of a planned $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that the project cannot move forward without approval from Congress.
US District Judge Richard Leon on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction sought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued the administration after the historic East Wing was demolished to make way for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The ruling halts construction while the legal challenge continues.
“Where does this leave us? Unfortunately for Defendants, unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop!” Leon wrote in his order.
Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, said he would pause enforcement of the order for 14 days to allow the administration to appeal. He added that the injunction does not affect “construction necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House.” Hours after the ruling, the Justice Department filed an appeal with the Washington-based US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Reacting on his Truth Social platform, Trump sharply criticized the lawsuit, calling the National Trust a group of left-wing “lunatics.” He defended the project, saying the ballroom is “under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World.”
The National Trust welcomed the court’s decision. Its president and CEO, Carol Quillen, said: “This is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation.”
The dispute stems from the administration’s decision to demolish the East Wing — originally built in 1902 and later expanded during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt — to clear space for the new ballroom. The nonprofit argues that neither the president nor the National Park Service had the authority to remove the historic structure or construct a major new facility without explicit congressional approval.
In his ruling, Leon emphasized constitutional limits on presidential power over the executive residence. “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” he wrote, adding that no federal law “comes close” to granting such authority.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump rejected the ruling, saying Leon was “totally wrong.” “Many things have been built in the White House,” he said. “They haven’t gotten congressional approval, especially when the money is being not put up by the taxpayer.”
The decision marks a setback for the administration, which has argued the ballroom would modernize infrastructure, enhance security and reduce reliance on temporary outdoor structures for large events. Officials have also stressed that the project is being funded entirely by private donors.
The ballroom plan is part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape Washington’s monumental core, including proposed changes to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the addition of a 250-foot ceremonial arch.
A separate federal body, the National Capital Planning Commission, is scheduled to vote on the project’s building plans later this week, though the court’s ruling now casts uncertainty over the proposal’s immediate future.
Boluwatife Enome
