A federal judge has once again halted construction of the above-ground section of a planned White House ballroom ordered by US President Donald Trump, ruling that the project cannot move forward without approval from Congress. However, the court allowed work on an underground facility linked to the project to continue.
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In a ruling issued on Thursday, Richard Leon said the administration appeared to be attempting to bypass an earlier court order by reclassifying the ballroom project as essential to national security. The judge rejected that justification, writing that such claims do not allow the government to avoid legal requirements.
“National security is not a blank cheque to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity,” Leon wrote.
Legal challenge and appeal
The US Department of Justice has filed a notice of appeal following the ruling. Trump responded on social media, insisting the ballroom was urgently required and arguing that the courts should not be able to stop it.
The decision represents the latest setback for the project, which Leon had already temporarily halted in late March. At that time, he ruled that proper procedures had not been followed before construction began.
The earlier suspension came after a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which accused the White House of bypassing regulatory requirements.
The group said the administration had begun construction without submitting plans to the National Capital Planning Commission, without carrying out an environmental assessment, and without seeking authorisation from Congress.
The lawsuit also argued the move violated the US Constitution, which gives Congress authority over federal property.
Dispute over the project
Trump defended the ballroom plan in posts on his Truth Social platform, saying construction was ahead of schedule and within budget.
He criticised the judge’s decision, writing that it would prevent future US presidents and international leaders from having a secure venue for large meetings.
The president has described the underground portion of the project as a support structure for a larger complex that would include bomb shelters and medical facilities. According to Trump, the underground facilities would not function properly without the above-ground ballroom.
“It’s all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit,” he wrote, adding that it was vital for national security and military operations.
Wider plans for Washington
The ballroom project forms part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape parts of Washington.
The White House’s East Wing, originally built in 1902, was demolished in October to make space for the development. Initial plans called for a ballroom that could host 500 guests, but the design was later expanded to accommodate up to 1,350 people.
Separately, a federal panel has given preliminary approval for another proposal: a 250-foot (76m) monument known as the “Arc de Trump”.
The United States Commission of Fine Arts voted to move the project forward despite strong criticism from members of the public and preservation groups.
If eventually approved, the monument would stand taller than both the United States Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Plans released by the White House show a gold-accented arch topped by a statue resembling the Statue of Liberty holding a torch and wearing a crown.
Funding documents show that the National Endowment for the Humanities plans to allocate $2m in special funds and $13m in matching funds to the monument. Trump has previously said that leftover funds from the ballroom project could also help finance the arch.
Project faces uncertain path
With the latest ruling in place, construction of the ballroom’s visible structures cannot proceed unless Congress authorises the project or the decision is overturned on appeal.
For now, the administration may continue work only on the underground elements while the legal dispute continues.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 April 2026
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