Trump can’t build White House ballroom without congressional approval: Appeals court

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals sided with historic preservationists who sued to stop construction. The court said it would stay its own ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of DC circuit judges determined that "Congress has exclusive authority to regulate the construction and demolition of White House structures."

More than half of the money for the project is coming from taxpayers Alamy Not so fast The ballroom is expected to cost as much as $600 million. AN APPEALS COURT on Friday upheld a US judge’s order to halt construction on President Donald Trump’s prized White House ballroom, but issued a two-week delay to enforcement f

In a 2-1 decision, the US Court of Appeals sided with historic preservationists who sued to stop construction.

"Whether or not a ⁠massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide," the appeals panel's ​majority said.

A federal appeals court ordered Friday that the construction of the proposed White House ballroom must get congressional approval to proceed, dealing President Donald Trump another setback in his ambitious project for the executive mansion. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 that construction must

A federal court has dealt a major blow to President Donald Trump's White House ballroom construction project, ordering it to be halted after a legal challenge.

A federal appeals court panel backed a lower court’s ruling, and made it likely that the Supreme Court will decide the case. But the decision does not mean construction will halt immediately.

A federal appeals court said the White House lacks the authority to unilaterally construct a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood.

A federal appeals court affirmed a federal judge’s ruling to block construction of the White House ballroom while allowing below-ground construction to move forward.

The court was not persuaded by the administration’s argument that the ballroom itself is critical to national security.

A federal appellate court ruled on Friday that Donald Trump must get congressional approval to build his massive new ballroom at the East wing of the White House. In a 2-1 decision, the court ruled that construction on the ballroom will have to halt, except for those parts of the structure for safety and security.…

A federal appeals court panel blocked President Trump’s White House ballroom in a 2-1 vote on Friday, saying that work must stop except for below-ground construction, including installations Trump says are needed for security.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit panel ruled that Congress retains control ove

Appeals court rules Trump must get approval from Congress on ballroom, ordering halt to construction  Toronto Star

Appeals court rules Trump must get approval from Congress on ballroom, ordering halt to construction  AP News

An appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress to build his proposed White House ballroom, saying construction must stop

President Donald Trump holds a rendering of the proposed new East Wing of the White House as he speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from West Palm Beach to Joint Base Andrews, on Mar 29, 2026. (File photo: AP/Mark Schiefelbein) 07 Aug 2026 10:49PM WASHINGTON: A United States federal appeals court on Frida

US appeals court blocks Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project  Reuters

Appeals court says Trump is unlawfully constructing White House ballroom  CNN