Court Halts Trump's Four Billion Dollar Ballroom Project

A U.S. appeals court has dealt a blow to former President Donald Trump's ambitious project to construct a ballroom at the White House. The court ruled on Friday that the construction must be halted, citing a lack of necessary approval from Congress.

The ruling states that the project cannot proceed without explicit authorization from lawmakers. The Trump administration has a two-week window, starting from Friday, to file an appeal with the Supreme Court. This means the appeals court's decision is not yet final and could be subject to further legal review.

Last year, the east wing of the White House was demolished on short notice and without congressional consent to make way for the planned 8,360-square-meter ballroom, which was intended to accommodate 1,000 guests. Trump had previously highlighted the ballroom as a significant addition to the White House and a lasting symbol of his presidency.

Initial cost estimates for the ballroom project were around $400 million. However, The Washington Post reported in June that the construction costs had escalated by an additional $200 million. The court's decision now casts doubt on whether this costly project will ever be completed.