Appeals court blocks most of Trump’s ballroom construction

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Friday ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration must stop aboveground construction of a ballroom at the White House. The administration bulldozed the old East Wing of the White House in October 2025 and began construction amid legal challenges. The ruling puts a stop to work on the building, with a few exceptions, until Trump receives congressional approval. The ruling would take effect in two weeks to give the president’s team time to appeal to the Supreme Court if they wished to do so, judges said.

Trump on Friday said he would immediately appeal to the Supreme Court. The project would improve security for himself and future presidents and cost taxpayers nothing, he said. He also called attention to the fact that the two judges who voted against the project were appointed by Democratic presidents, while the judge he appointed referred to the ruling as judicial overreach.

What was the reasoning behind the decision? Judges said Friday that Congress, not the president, exercises control over the building and surrounding property under the Constitution’s property clause. Trump needed lawmakers’ approval to continue the project, they said. The ruling also stated that the ballroom project would permanently harm the historic and architectural features of the White House.

What exceptions are included in the ruling? The ruling allowed underground construction of security facilities to continue, including bunkers, bomb shelters, and military and medical infrastructure. Judges also allowed a few narrow exceptions in which aboveground construction could continue—including necessary structural supports, coverings for secure facilities, or when needed to ensure Trump’s safety. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has repeatedly argued that the security features of the entire planned space are necessary for safety.

Dig deeper: Read Bethany Estoll’s story on the security features of the ballroom plan for more details.