US Appeals Court Upholds Halt on White House Ballroom Construction

A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, voted 2-1 on August 6 to uphold a temporary injunction issued by a lower court, preventing the construction of a ballroom at the White House until the lawsuit is resolved.

Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia, appointed by Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, formed the majority. Judge Neomi Rao, appointed by President Trump, dissented.

In the lengthy opinion, the majority judges emphasized that Congress has authority over the White House building and grounds, with the president merely a temporary occupant. "The President does not have—and does not claim to have—constitutional authority over this property, which is designed and maintained for all presidents, present and future, as well as for the American people," the opinion read.

The case began in October 2025, when construction crews unexpectedly demolished the East Wing of the White House, originally built in 1902, to make way for the ballroom Trump had long desired. The demolition occurred without prior notice, sparking outrage from heritage preservation groups.

In Friday's decision, Judges Millett and Garcia stressed that allowing construction would cause "permanent and irreparable harm" to historical, architectural, and aesthetic interests. They also noted that this is the first time in U.S. history that a president has unilaterally used private funds to demolish significant parts of the White House authorized by Congress.

The appeals court upheld the ruling of District Judge Richard Leon, who issued the temporary injunction on March 31. However, the new ruling takes effect after 14 days, allowing the Trump administration to appeal to the Supreme Court.

President Trump said he would immediately appeal to the Supreme Court, describing the ruling as "terrible, politically motivated, and illegal." He argued that the ballroom is necessary for national security purposes, providing space for presidents to host events safely.

The idea of building a ballroom was first mentioned by Trump in 2011 when he was a real estate developer, and he continued to push for it after taking office for his second term in 2025. Plans show the ballroom would cover approximately 90,000 square feet (8,361 square meters), far larger than the main structure of the White House.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization, filed a lawsuit in December 2025, arguing that Trump exceeded his authority by unilaterally destroying the East Wing and building the ballroom. The organization welcomed the latest ruling, calling it "a great day" for the country and for the voice of the American people.

However, the appeals court also noted that this ruling does not necessarily prevent the construction of the ballroom in the future if Trump wins the case. The key point is that construction can only proceed if Congress approves, as required by the Constitution.