Appeals court orders halt to Trump White House ballroom construction

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court ruled 2-1 that President Trump’s administration must halt construction of a $400 million White House ballroom due to lack of congressional approval, stating only Congress can authorize such a project.
• Trump criticized the ruling as “unjust” and vowed to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing the ballroom includes critical national security features and that no public funds are being used.
• The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued to stop the construction, welcomed the decision as a defense of public input on historic sites, emphasizing that Congress must authorize the project.
• The court allowed underground construction related to security, such as bunkers and medical facilities, to continue while blocking aboveground ballroom work pending further legal proceedings.
• The dispute highlights tensions over the largest structural change to the White House in over 70 years and follows concerns about other Trump-era construction proposals affecting historic landmarks.