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Appeals court halts construction of Trumps $400m White House ballroom

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A U.S. federal appeals court ruled 2-1 on Friday that the Trump administration must halt above-ground construction of a $400 million ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing, finding the project requires congressional approval.

A U.S. federal appeals court ruled 2-1 on Friday that the Trump administration must halt above-ground construction of a $400 million ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing, finding the project requires congressional approval.

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals stayed its ruling for 14 days to allow the administration to seek relief from the Supreme Court, while permitting below-ground construction of security-related facilities to continue.

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals stayed its ruling for 14 days to allow the administration to seek relief from the Supreme Court, while permitting below-ground construction of security-related facilities to continue.

The majority opinion was written by Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Bradley Garcia, a Biden appointee. Trump appointee Judge Neomi Rao dissented, arguing the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue.

The majority opinion was written by Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama appointee, and Bradley Garcia, a Biden appointee. Trump appointee Judge Neomi Rao dissented, arguing the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit in December 2025, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom Trump said would accommodate 999 people.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit in December 2025, a week after the White House finished demolishing the East Wing to make way for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom Trump said would accommodate 999 people.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, twice blocked above-ground ballroom construction, ruling that no federal statute "comes close to giving the President" the authority to build it without congressional approval.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, twice blocked above-ground ballroom construction, ruling that no federal statute "comes close to giving the President" the authority to build it without congressional approval.

The White House announced the ballroom project would be privately funded, though the cost has roughly doubled from initial projections. Trump described the ruling as "politically motivated" in a post on Truth Social and said that it would be appealed to the Supreme Court.

Donald Trump

The White House announced the ballroom project would be privately funded, though the cost has roughly doubled from initial projections. Trump described the ruling as "politically motivated" in a post on Truth Social and said that it would be appealed to the Supreme Court.

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A federal appeals court was right to slam the brakes on Trump's $400 million ballroom — Congress never authorized this project, and no president gets to demolish a historic landmark and rebuild it however he wants just because he feels like it. The East Wing is gone, the White House grounds look like a construction site, and Trump's other D.C. "beautification" schemes have already embarrassed the country. The courts have made it clear: the White House belongs to the people, not to whoever happens to be living there.

A federal appeals court was right to slam the brakes on Trump's $400 million ballroom — Congress never authorized this project, and no president gets to demolish a historic landmark and rebuild it however he wants just because he feels like it. The East Wing is gone, the White House grounds look like a construction site, and Trump's other D.C. "beautification" schemes have already embarrassed the country. The courts have made it clear: the White House belongs to the people, not to whoever happens to be living there.

This ballroom fight is about far more than aesthetics — a $500 million no-bid contract, a donor list packed with defense and intelligence contractors, and a funding agreement kept secret for six months all point to something being built underground that Congress never voted on. The "ballroom" is legal cover for a classified federal facility, and the DOJ's Sunday-morning demand to kill the lawsuit before a June 5 hearing was designed to bury that question permanently. The constitutional precedent being set here will outlast the building itself.

This ballroom fight is about far more than aesthetics — a $500 million no-bid contract, a donor list packed with defense and intelligence contractors, and a funding agreement kept secret for six months all point to something being built underground that Congress never voted on. The "ballroom" is legal cover for a classified federal facility, and the DOJ's Sunday-morning demand to kill the lawsuit before a June 5 hearing was designed to bury that question permanently. The constitutional precedent being set here will outlast the building itself.

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Appeals court halts construction of Trump’s $400m White House ballroom

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Unelected judges are blocking a legitimate presidential project that enhances security and serves the American people. The ballroom — twice the size of the original proposal — represents exactly the kind of bold, ambitious leadership the country needs, and courts have no business micromanaging how a president maintains the White House. Congress never explicitly prohibited this project, and the appeals court's 2-1 split proves this is far from settled law.

Unelected judges are blocking a legitimate presidential project that enhances security and serves the American people. The ballroom — twice the size of the original proposal — represents exactly the kind of bold, ambitious leadership the country needs, and courts have no business micromanaging how a president maintains the White House. Congress never explicitly prohibited this project, and the appeals court's 2-1 split proves this is far from settled law.

This ballroom is no gift — it's a $400M slush fund funneled through a no-bid contracting scheme that bypassed Congress entirely. Defense giants like Palantir and Lockheed funded it, not party planners, because what's being built underground is classified federal infrastructure, not a dance floor. The administration fought for six months to hide the funding contract, and that alone tells you everything about what this project actually is.

This ballroom is no gift — it's a $400M slush fund funneled through a no-bid contracting scheme that bypassed Congress entirely. Defense giants like Palantir and Lockheed funded it, not party planners, because what's being built underground is classified federal infrastructure, not a dance floor. The administration fought for six months to hide the funding contract, and that alone tells you everything about what this project actually is.

Appeals court halts construction of Trump’s $400m White House ballroom

Appeals court halts construction of Trump’s $400m White House ballroom

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Appeals court halts construction of Trump’s $400m White House ballroom

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