U.S. Court Puts Brakes on Trump’s $400 Million White House Ballroom, Says Congressional Approval Is Required

[Financial News, New York = Lee Byung-chul, correspondent]The United States Court of Appeals has blocked President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project. The court upheld an order halting construction, saying the president does not have the authority to carry out a sweeping renovation of The White House without congressional approval.
On the 7th local time, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., upheld a preliminary injunction ordering a halt to construction of the ballroom being built on the site where the East Wing was demolished, in a 2-1 decision.
The lawsuit was filed last year by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a historic preservation group. The organization argued that the Trump administration acted illegally by demolishing the East Wing of The White House without congressional approval and then beginning work on a ballroom of about 8,360 square meters.
The panel said, "The decision on whether to build a large ballroom is for Congress to make, not for the executive branch to decide on its own." It added, "Congress has never granted the executive branch unlimited authority to redesign and rebuild The White House, the People's House, to suit the wishes of a particular president."
The court, however, stayed the ruling for 14 days so the Trump administration can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The case is drawing attention as a landmark constitutional dispute over the limits of presidential executive power.
Earlier, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had twice ordered a halt to above-ground construction while allowing work underground to continue. He ruled that no federal law gives the president authority to build a ballroom without congressional approval.
The Ministry of Justice, meanwhile, argued that the court should not intervene because the project is being funded privately. It also said the existing East Wing exposed the president and White House staff to attack risks, making a new building necessary on national security grounds. The plaintiffs countered, saying, "The administration simply does not want to seek congressional approval."
Trump has argued that the ballroom is needed for large state visits and official dinners, and that it could also improve The White House’s security. In a post on Truth Social last month, he said the construction cost had nearly doubled from the original estimate because "the scale is much larger and the quality is much higher," adding that it would be "a magnificent and secure building."



[email protected] Lee Byung-chul, correspondent Reporter