The US administration has been ordered to stop construction on a $400m (£297m) ballroom at the White House, after a federal appeals court upheld a legal injunction that said the work cannot proceed without authorisation from Congress.

The ruling, delivered on Friday by a three-judge panel in a 2-1 decision, marks another setback for President Donald Trump’s bid to reshape parts of the presidential residence. The court also gave the administration a 14-day window to ask the Supreme Court to review the decision.

Injunction Bars Above-Ground Work

The case was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation after the administration removed the East Wing last year to start the project. The appeals court maintained a preliminary injunction won by the group, which blocked above-ground construction while allowing other work to continue.

In its majority opinion, the panel said the question of whether a large ballroom should be built is one for Congress, not for the executive branch to determine through “self-help”.

The judges added that Congress had not granted the president broad, unrestricted power to redesign and reconstruct the White House to suit a specific administration. The court said the presidential residence and its executive accommodation are intended for use by successive presidents and for the public.

The opinion stated that each president is a “temporary tenant” of the White House rather than its owner. It also concluded that the executive does not have constitutionally assigned authority over the property in the way the administration planned.

Construction Authority and Timing

The administration sought to overturn earlier rulings after a federal judge twice prevented above-ground activity on the ballroom, while permitting underground work to continue.

On Friday, the appeals court confirmed that blocking order, while pausing its own implementation for 14 days so the government could pursue a Supreme Court appeal. The BBC said it contacted the White House and the Department of Justice for comment.

Trump, who has repeatedly promoted the ballroom project since unveiling plans, reacted strongly on social media, calling the court decision “horrendous” and claiming it was politically motivated. He said the dissenting judge described the order as a “blatant abuse of discretion”.

Trump Cites Security and Plans Appeal

Trump also argued that the military and the Secret Service regarded the ruling as a national security threat, and said the decision should be overturned by the Supreme Court in full.

He repeated that the ballroom would be delivered on an accelerated timetable and within budget. Trump said it would be funded by a coalition of private donors as a gift to the American people, while also arguing that the project is needed for “grand parties” and state visits.

At the same time, Republicans have sought to draw on part of a $1bn (£740m) pot of taxpayer money for Secret Service security upgrades. A budget watchdog had dismissed that plan in May.

Government lawyers have said the project includes a security complex below ground and additional measures intended to protect the White House from threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, biohazards and other hazards. Trump said the construction would involve bomb shelters, hospital and medical facilities and “top secret” military infrastructure.

Graphic courtesy of BBC

The preservation group argued that the move to “disturb” the White House was not justified and that having a ballroom was not a national security emergency. It said there was no basis to proceed with work that would alter the historic property.

The appeals court majority said its decision did not assess whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or whether it could be built eventually. Instead, it said the administration may not proceed during the ongoing litigation unless it secures authorisation from Congress.

After the ruling, Brent Leggs, president and chief executive of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said no above-ground construction could take place “unless and until” Congress acts, calling the White House an irreplaceable monument.

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8 August 2026

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Hopefully the courts can delay this till after the midterms to prevent further vandalism of our capital.

What kind of real estate developer comes up with

a revolting bland " white blanket ' like that?

Someone who hates history ?

It shows where his priorities are. Grandiose stuff. Removed from reality.

He behaves like money is no object as long as the printing press is working. US just built a new consulate in Chiang Mai. I spoke

to the foreman who told me that new consulates will be built in many countries. He works for same developer who will be building

these consulates. Contracts audited? If gold standard existed these politicians wouldn't have the opportunity to bankrupt their respective countries.

3 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

What kind of real estate developer comes up with

a revolting bland " white blanket ' like that?

Someone who hates history ?

Or someone without a nanogram of taste and class, in his entire toxic, diseased body.

Finally getting some action on Trump's illegal outrages, especially the removal of his name from the Kennedy Center. He should be tried and jailed for illegally destroying the East Wing. Let's remember he wants to jail Hearns for 10 years for 'vandalism' due to merely sticking his hand in the Reflecting Pool and touching a piece of floating paint.

The real vandal is Trump, and all his reasons for the need of a new ballroom are bogus. There's a perfectly good very large ballroom just down the street from the White House. That doesn't mean that there should never be any change, it just means the changes need to be legal, and approved through the legal process. The need to go through proper legal channels could not be more evident than Trump's latest insane idea to paint the Executive Office Building, which is clad in granite. Numerous experts have spoken out that it is a terrible idea to paint granite which, if done, will cause lots of ongoing problems for this valuable, treasured, historic building. Ignorant Trump could care less but, hopefully, this really bad idea will be killed.

That would definitely be an eyesore and overwhelm the White House as it stands. How many people really want to go a visit Him in the ballroom anyway. Maybe it’s just a new stage he can welcome his loyal followers, but even now that is way too big. I can’t wait for this nut job to leave.

Could always continue to have state dinner and functions in a tent.

A place to hold functions was needed, that it had to be at the White House is something I don't agree with. But already started, and mostly funded by public donations, or so we're told, might as well finish it.

As now it's a bit of an eyesore ...

Best observation by one judge is Trump is a tenant, temporary and not the owner. It is 'the people's house'.

5 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Best observation by one judge is Trump is a tenant, temporary and not the owner. It is 'the people's house'.

Indeed- and with the mid terms approaching hopefully a tenant who can just shout and lie but do little else

19 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Or someone without a nanogram of taste and class, in his entire toxic, diseased body.

Agree--just look at how he has turned the once beautiful, dignified Oval Office into a cat house waiting room. If it's utterly vulgar, it's Trump.

6 minutes ago, newnative said:

Agree--just look at how he has turned the once beautiful, dignified Oval Office into a cat house waiting room. If it's utterly vulgar, it's Trump.

His NY apartment is one of the ugliest and most tacky penthouses anywhere. The man lacks taste to a profound degree. He is gutter trash.

Remember, when he first announced the ballroom, he claimed it wouldn't alter the sight of the East Wing? And then he demolished it.

1 hour ago, L- Lifeline said:

Indeed- and with the mid terms approaching hopefully a tenant who can just shout and lie but do little else

If he loses the house and somehow the dems are able to take the senate, not even the White House janitor will return Don's phone call. He will enter a life of oblivion and his only choices will be suicide, resignation, or disappearing from view entirely, all of them would be wonderful options.

It's no surprise it's that big it includes offices for the first and her staff. I strongly suspect like all his projects, it's going to go wildly over the $400 Million.

Interesting that the military bunker/complex underneath is planned to be finished by September 2028 along with the ballroom. I'm a little uneasy about Trump disputing the result of the 2028 election, calling it stolen and staying in his bunker until he says it's sorted out. This egotistical "maga"lomaniac really could start a civil war.

Edited August 8Aug 8 by BexMan

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Could always continue to have state dinner and functions in a tent.

A place to hold functions was needed, that it had to be at the White House is something I don't agree with. But already started, and mostly funded by public donations, or so we're told, might as well finish it.

As now it's a bit of an eyesore ...

That would be support for illegal actions. Look at the before & after photos above. You'd really want to see that monstrosity built???

This court decision is fine for me, But then they shouldn't have let him demolish the east wing. This is a totally absurd, stupid and paradoxal ruling.

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You'd really want to see that monstrosity built???

I didn't exactly say that, although raze what is there, or redesign, although I haven't seen what his plan was, but if anything like in the OP, then no, as I stated, it didn't and probably shouldn't have been planned at all at the WH.

I've yet to see the planned 'ballroom', or any photo that I'd consider creditable, and can't find anything I trust on the internet when I peeked, IMHO

The OP falsely states ball room is larger than the WH residence, and wrong. But it is the BBC. They seem to omit, more than 2/3 of the new construction has nothing to do with the ballroom.

Also consider, the WH complex (residence & West/East wing) hasn't been structurally changed in 84 yrs.

Maybe this will help some folks understand, what the actual size of what is / was planned.

Edited August 8Aug 8 by KhunLA

Trump blasted the two judges appointed by Democratic presidents in a lengthy Truth Social post, writing that the administration will “immediately” appeal the ruling, which he described as “horrendous, politically motivated and unlawful.”

Unlawful? His mouth should get washed out with soap when HE pronounces it...

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/appeals-court-blocks-trumps-400-million-white-house-ballroom-project_n_6a76099fe4b06ed70681d998

Edited August 8Aug 8 by Schoggibueb
link added

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Or someone without a nanogram of taste and class, in his entire toxic, diseased body.

Oh I don't know, I for one found the proposal to have a gilded animated statue of the Emperor Nero playing the violin in the grand entrance was, umh, challenging in terms of taste!

I believe that is going to be funded by the fellow two doors down from Mar-a-Lago who won the "no bid contract" to seal the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool!

No connection of course, he is just a jolly generous public spirited sort of chap!

Edited August 8Aug 8 by JAG

9 hours ago, Emdog said:

Best observation by one judge is Trump is a tenant, temporary and not the owner. It is 'the people's house'.

BINGO!!!the problem is trump is not only a bad tenant it will be absolute hell trying prying him out of it.It also wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he try’s to steal everything he can and vandalize what’s left.kinda like what he’s trying to do to the world.

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

His NY apartment is one of the ugliest and most tacky penthouses anywhere. The man lacks taste to a profound degree. He is gutter trash.

It's even worse taste than Boris Johnson's. I've always said one of the worst types of human is a prole with lots of money.

19 minutes ago, BusyB said:

It's even worse taste than Boris Johnson's. I've always said one of the worst types of human is a prole with lots of money.

What is the connection between Boris Johnson and a "prole"?

18 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

What is the connection between Boris Johnson and a "prole"?

None. It's rather a non sequitur - that bit was aimed at Trump. But they do share abysmal taste among other dubious traits.

On 8/8/2026 at 5:09 AM, spidermike007 said:

If he loses the house and somehow the dems are able to take the senate, not even the White House janitor will return Don's phone call. He will enter a life of oblivion and his only choices will be suicide, resignation, or disappearing from view entirely, all of them would be wonderful options.

From your lips to gods ears!