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Court blocks Trump's White House ballroom construction pending congressional approval
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Court blocks Trump's White House ballroom construction pending congressional approval

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • A U.S. appeals court ruled that construction of a White House ballroom by President Donald Trump must halt until Congress grants permission.
  • The court affirmed that Congress controls funding for White House developments and had not authorized Trump's ballroom project.
  • The ruling, which takes effect in 14 days, allows the White House to appeal to the Supreme Court.

A U.S. appeals court has halted construction of a planned White House ballroom, ruling that President Donald Trump must obtain permission from Congress before proceeding. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upholds a previous federal judge's ruling, asserting that Congress retains control over funding for White House developments and had not authorized the project.

The decision whether or not to build a large ballroom is Congress's, and not a matter of executive self-help.

— U.S. Court of AppealsThe court's reasoning for halting the construction of the White House ballroom.

"The decision whether or not to build a large ballroom is Congress's, and not a matter of executive self-help," the court stated. Judges emphasized that "every president is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its executive residence." The ruling, which stems from a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, focuses solely on the procedural requirement for congressional approval, not on the merits or desirability of the ballroom itself.

Every president is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its executive residence.

— U.S. Court of Appeals judgesThe judges' statement on presidential authority over the White House.

"This decision has absolutely nothing to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable or not, from a political point of view. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the defendants cannot ultimately build the ballroom," the judicial resolution indicated. The appeals court's decision will take effect in 14 days, providing an opportunity for the White House to appeal to the Supreme Court.

This decision has absolutely nothing to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable or not, from a political point of view. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the defendants cannot ultimately build the ballroom.

— U.S. Court of AppealsThe court's clarification that the ruling is procedural, not based on the ballroom's merits.

President Trump has championed the ballroom as a significant legacy project, envisioning it as "a gift to the United States, and more than a gift." He described it as potentially becoming "one of the most beautiful buildings ever constructed in the country." However, this latest judicial setback underscores the ongoing tension between executive ambitions and congressional oversight regarding the historic presidential residence.

It is going to be one of the most beautiful buildings ever constructed in the country.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump's description of his vision for the White House ballroom project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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