Judge blocks Trump White House ballroom project for now
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has temporarily blocked the construction of President Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom, citing lack of congressional authorization.
- Judge Richard Leon ruled that no existing law grants the President authority to build the ballroom without Congress's approval, siding with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued to halt the project.
- The injunction prevents Trump administration officials from proceeding with the ballroom's development and will take effect within 14 days, allowing time for an appeal.
- The East Wing was demolished months ago to make way for the 90,000-square-foot ballroom, intended to be funded by private donations, but the judge emphasized the President is steward, not owner, of the White House.
- The White House responded with a statement from Trump criticizing the National Trust as a "Radical Left Group" and defending the project as under budget and ahead of schedule, while also attacking the group's focus on the ballroom instead of other federal buildings.
