Appeals court says Congress must ok White House ballroom : NPR

Key Points:

• A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a White House ballroom, ruling that congressional approval is required for the project to proceed.
• The 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit emphasized that the decision to build the ballroom lies with Congress, not the executive branch, but the order is stayed for two weeks to allow an appeal to the Supreme Court.
• President Trump condemned the ruling as politically motivated and unlawful, asserting the ballroom's construction is a national security matter essential for protecting the White House and its occupants.
• The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued to stop the construction, praised the ruling as a victory for public oversight of historic sites, highlighting that only Congress can authorize such a project.
• The ballroom project, initially estimated at $200 million but possibly costing $600 million, includes advanced security features and a bunker, with the administration citing recent threats to justify its importance.