US Judge Halts Trump's White House Ballroom Construction

Wed Apr 01 2026 01:50:16 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a significant ruling, a US judge has temporarily stopped the planned construction of a new ballroom at the White House due to procedural violations. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit citing that the administration failed to follow appropriate guidelines.

A US judge has issued a temporary halt on the construction of a new ballroom at the White House, following a ruling prompted by a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The judge found that proper procedures were not adhered to, including a lack of congressional approval. President Trump criticized the decision, insisting the project is on track and fully funded by private donations.

A US judge has temporarily halted President Trump’s White House ballroom construction project, ruling that proper procedures were not followed before the project commenced.

The decision comes after the White House was sued by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

I have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have, said Judge Richard Leon.

Trump criticized the ruling on his social media platform, stating that the project is progressing well and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World.

The Trump administration had previously argued that its plan was more cost-effective than renovations to the East Wing and noted that many past presidents have made changes to the White House.

Leon's ruling, published on Tuesday, stated: 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 further emphasized that construction must cease unless Congress approves the project through statutory authorization.

The ruling takes effect in 14 days, allowing for a possible appeal.

In the lawsuit, the preservation group argued that the White House violated regulations by starting construction without proper filings with the National Capital Planning Commission, neglecting an environmental assessment, and failing to seek congressional approval.

It also claimed Trump was in violation of the US Constitution, which reserves to Congress the right to regulate federal properties.

In his conclusion, Leon stated that congressional approval for the project would benefit the public by ensuring all branches of government fulfill their roles per the Constitution. Not a bad outcome, that! he added.

The East Wing, constructed in 1902, was demolished last fall to pave the way for the ballroom project. The proposed space has expanded from accommodating 500 guests to a capacity of 1,350, with an expected cost of $400 million funded entirely by private donors.

President Trump plans to appeal the ruling, maintaining that he does not need congressional approval to continue the construction. He noted the upcoming visit of King Charles III, arguing that a tent would not suffice due to potential rain.