Judge Blocks Trump’s $400 Million White House Ballroom Project
A federal judge in Washington has ordered construction to stop on President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project, ruling that the administration cannot proceed without approval from Congress.
In a March 31 decision, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction requested by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit group challenging the plan. The order halts work on the nearly 90,000 square foot ballroom, which replaced the demolished East Wing, unless Congress authorizes it.
Leon found that no existing law gives the president authority to carry out a project of that scale on White House grounds without legislative approval. Government lawyers argued the ballroom qualified as an “alteration” to federal property, but the court rejected that position, stating it would give the executive branch broad construction power without clear limits.
According to court filings, the ballroom plan moved forward without congressional approval, independent review, or a public comment process typically required for major changes to federally owned historic sites.
Under the Constitution, Congress controls federal property and government spending. That authority has long required lawmakers to approve major construction projects tied to national landmarks, including the White House. The court said the president’s role is to manage and maintain the property, not to carry out large scale redevelopment without that approval.
Preservation advocates also argue the project bypassed review procedures designed to assess how construction could affect historic resources and the surrounding grounds.
Leon said the order does not permanently block the ballroom. He noted that Congress can authorize the project at any time, either through legislation or by approving a funding structure that allows construction to resume.
The legal challenge follows months of litigation over the project. Earlier requests to halt construction were denied on procedural grounds, but the court allowed the preservation group to file an updated complaint. After reviewing those claims, Leon concluded the case raised sufficient legal questions to justify pausing construction while it proceeds.
Plans for the ballroom call for a large event space for state functions and official gatherings, with completion projected for 2028. The administration has said the project is being funded through private donations, though the court found that this funding source does not replace the need for congressional approval.
Leon wrote that Congress must retain authority over federal property and spending decisions, and that allowing construction to continue without approval would undermine that role.
The Trump administration has appealed the preliminary injunction, and construction on the ballroom project remains on hold while the case moves forward.
