US appeals court blocks Trump's $400m White House ballroom project

A divided federal appeals court in Washington ruled on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump is unlawfully constructing a massive 400-million-dollar new ballroom at the White House, while pausing the ruling for 14 days to allow the administration to seek Supreme Court review, reported Xinhua.

"Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence. The President has no -- and claims no -- constitutionally assigned authority over that property, which is designed and maintained for the use of all Presidents, current and future, and for the American people," according to the 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

"We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for. Until now," the ruling said.

The ruling, which sided with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, noted that over just three days in October 2025, "without undertaking promised consultations or obtaining Congress's permission," Trump bulldozed the entire East Wing in order to construct a massive, 90,000-square-foot ballroom paid for by private funds with "no congressional oversight."

The ruling added that "we will stay this decision for fourteen days to allow the Defendants, if they choose, to seek Supreme Court review."

Trump's proposed White House ballroom expansion has been primarily backed by the White House and many congressional allies, but it has faced pushback and concern from several Republicans in Congress.

In early June, seven Republican senators joined Democrats in voting for an amendment that aimed to prohibit funding or construction of the ballroom without authorization from Congress.