By SUNTV Global Channel
August 7, 2026
A United States federal appeals court has ordered the suspension of President Donald Trump’s controversial $400 million White House ballroom construction project, dealing a major legal setback to the administration’s plan.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld an earlier court order blocking further construction work on the proposed ballroom, which is planned for the site of the demolished White House East Wing.
The legal battle began after the National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged the project, arguing that the Trump administration lacked approval from the U.S. Congress to make such a major alteration to the historic White House complex.
The preservation group maintained that demolishing the East Wing and replacing it with a 90,000-square-foot ballroom required legislative authorisation.
Although the appeals court agreed to maintain the injunction stopping construction, it temporarily delayed enforcement of the ruling for 14 days, giving the Trump administration an opportunity to seek intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court.
The dispute followed a lawsuit filed after demolition work began at the site. Earlier, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had also restricted above-ground construction, while allowing some underground work to continue.
Judge Leon had argued that existing federal laws did not give the president unlimited authority to carry out such a major redevelopment project without congressional approval.
However, the Trump administration defended the ballroom project, describing it as necessary for security and official government functions.
Government lawyers argued that the White House needed a larger event space to host major state occasions and reduce security challenges associated with holding events outside the executive residence.
Opponents of the project have continued to criticise the plan, saying changes to one of America’s most historic government buildings should not be made without proper legal approval.
The ruling represents another major legal challenge for Trump’s administration as the debate over the future of the White House complex continues.
