US Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s $400m White House Ballroom Project

A U.S. federal appeals court has dealt a significant blow to Donald Trump's administration by ordering a halt to the construction of a $400 million ballroom project on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing. The ruling, issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision, tests the limits of presidential authority over the historic landmark.

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Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House, and cannot fundamentally reshape it without congressional approval.

The majority opinion stated that "Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House," and therefore cannot undertake fundamental reshaping projects without explicit approval from Congress. This decision upholds a preliminary injunction previously granted to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sued after the administration demolished the East Wing to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom without seeking congressional authorization.

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Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.

The appeals court emphasized that decisions regarding the construction of such a large facility should be made by Congress, not through unilateral executive action. The ruling has been temporarily stayed for 14 days, providing the Trump administration an opportunity to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump has vehemently opposed the ruling, calling it "horrendous" and politically motivated, and has claimed the ballroom is a security necessity, incorporating features like bomb shelters and drone shielding.

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This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety.

National Trust President Brent Leggs hailed the ruling as "a great day for our country and for the American people’s right to voice their opinions about the historic places they cherish." The case originated when U.S. District Judge Richard Leon twice blocked above-ground construction, though underground work was permitted to continue. This ballroom plan is one of several Trump initiatives aimed at reshaping Washington D.C.'s landscape, including the controversial addition of his name to the Kennedy Center.

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A great day for our country and for the American people’s right to voice their opinions about the historic places they cherish, including the White House.