Appeals Court Halts White House Ballroom Construction Without Congress

A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration Friday to stop above-ground construction of a ballroom at the White House, ruling that the project requires authorization from Congress that it has not received.

The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 in a 136-page opinion, NPR reported. The court wrote that whether a large ballroom should be built is a question for Congress and not a matter for executive self-help, according to the Associated Press.

The structure would total roughly 90,000 square feet and seat 1,000 guests, on the site of the East Wing that Trump ordered demolished last fall. The White House initially estimated the cost at $200 million. The Washington Post reported in June, citing contractors' invoices, that the total could reach at least $600 million.

The ruling upheld a preliminary injunction issued in April by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who was appointed by President George W. Bush. The suit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued the administration began work without completing a legally required review process.

Circuit Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia wrote for the majority that each president is a temporary tenant rather than the owner of the White House, according to CNBC. They said national security arguments do not function as an automatic exemption from the law. Judge Neomi Rao, whom Trump appointed, dissented.

The order does not permanently bar a ballroom. It halts above-ground work during the litigation and until Congress acts. Below-ground construction may continue, including security installations the administration says are necessary, The Hill reported.

The panel stayed its own order for two weeks to allow an appeal. Trump said on social media that he would take the case to the Supreme Court immediately, calling the ruling unjust.

Brent Leggs, president of the National Trust, said the group's position had been consistent from the start: only Congress can authorize the construction.