BY COMFORT OGBONNA
A federal judge has temporarily halted plans by Donald Trump to build a $400 million ballroom on the grounds of the White House, ruling that the project cannot proceed without explicit approval from Congress. The decision represents a significant legal obstacle for one of the most prominent projects aimed at reshaping the historic presidential residence.
On Tuesday, Richard Leon, a judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, granted a preliminary injunction requested by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The nonprofit group had filed a lawsuit arguing that the president exceeded his authority by demolishing the historic East Wing of the White House and beginning construction of a large new ballroom complex.
The ruling effectively places the 90,000-square-foot ballroom project on hold while the legal challenge proceeds through the courts.
In his written order, Judge Leon stated that the administration cannot continue construction unless Congress formally authorizes the project. He emphasized that the president does not have unilateral authority to demolish historic federal structures or replace them with major new facilities without legislative approval.
“Where does this leave us? Unfortunately for Defendants, unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop,” Leon wrote in the ruling.
The judge did, however, pause enforcement of his order for 14 days, giving the administration time to file an appeal. He also clarified that his decision would not interfere with construction work necessary to maintain the safety and security of the White House complex.
Shortly after the ruling was issued, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington, seeking to overturn the injunction and allow the project to continue.
Trump quickly responded to the decision on his social media platform Truth Social, criticizing the preservation group that brought the lawsuit. He described the National Trust as a group of “left-wing lunatics” and defended the ballroom project as a cost-effective improvement to the White House grounds.
According to Trump, the ballroom project is progressing ahead of schedule and under budget. He also stressed that the building is being funded entirely by private donors rather than taxpayer money, describing it as a world-class facility that would serve future administrations.
“The ballroom is under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the taxpayer, and will be the finest building of its kind anywhere in the world,” Trump wrote.
Leaders of the National Trust for Historic Preservation welcomed the court’s ruling, calling it a victory for historic preservation and public oversight of changes to one of the nation’s most iconic landmarks.
Carol Quillen, president and chief executive of the organization, said the decision protects a historic national symbol and ensures that major alterations to the White House will receive proper review.
“This is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation,” Quillen said in a statement following the ruling.
The ballroom has been one of Trump’s most ambitious projects involving the White House during his presidency. He has repeatedly described it as a defining addition to the historic residence and a lasting symbol of his administration.
However, critics argue that the project risks permanently altering the historic character of the White House grounds.
The lawsuit that triggered the ruling was filed in December after the administration demolished the East Wing of the White House to make way for the new ballroom. The East Wing was originally constructed in 1902 and later expanded during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940s.
Preservation advocates argue that neither the president nor the National Park Service, which manages the White House grounds, had legal authority to remove the historic structure or begin construction on a major new building without direct approval from Congress.
The National Trust is also involved in a separate legal dispute challenging the administration’s proposed overhaul of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, another project tied to the administration’s broader vision for redesigning parts of the capital.
Administration officials have defended the ballroom project as a modernization effort designed to improve White House infrastructure. They argue that the new facility would provide a permanent space for large state events, reducing reliance on temporary outdoor structures that are often used during official gatherings.
Supporters of the project also say the ballroom could enhance security and operational efficiency by consolidating event spaces within the White House complex.
In his decision, Judge Leon emphasized that the president acts as a caretaker rather than an owner of the White House.
“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families,” Leon wrote. “He is not, however, the owner.”
Trump rejected that interpretation during remarks to reporters at an event in the Oval Office, insisting that previous additions and renovations to the White House did not always require congressional approval.
“Many things have been built in the White House,” Trump said. “They haven’t gotten congressional approval, especially when the money is not coming from taxpayers.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whose members were appointed during Trump’s administration, voted unanimously to approve the ballroom’s architectural design.
The project is also part of a broader initiative by Trump to reshape parts of Washington’s monumental core. His plans include proposals for a 250-foot ceremonial arch and additional changes to major cultural landmarks in the capital.
Another federal body, the National Capital Planning Commission, is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday to vote on whether to approve the ballroom’s construction plans. The commission is one of the key regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing development projects in Washington’s federal district.
A spokesperson for the commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the court’s ruling.
For now, construction of the proposed ballroom remains paused while the legal battle continues, leaving the future of one of the most controversial building projects in modern White House history uncertain.
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