A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction blocking the Trump administration from continuing construction on a contested White House ballroom project. The 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday ruled that the executive branch bypassed required congressional authorization.
The Appeals Court Ruling and the Constitutional Clash
A divided three-judge panel upheld a preliminary injunction halting above-ground construction on President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom. The majority on the Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the executive branch cannot unilaterally reshape the presidential residence without approval from the legislative branch.
Writing for the majority, the panel asserted that altering the historic building is a matter for lawmakers rather than executive initiative. Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,
the judges wrote, adding that Congress has not ceded unfettered authority to redesign the structure.
The appellate decision affirmed an earlier ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a nominee of former President George W. Bush. Leon had previously found that no federal statute grants the president the power to build the structure without congressional sign-off. The appeals court stayed its own order for 14 days, providing the administration a brief window to take the fight to the Supreme Court.
National Security Arguments and the Demolition of the East Wing
The legal dispute intensified in October after the Trump administration demolished the East Wing, which was originally built in 1902, to clear the footprint for construction. While Trump had initially said the project would be “near” the East Wing, it was demolished to begin construction.
Government lawyers defended the project primarily on security grounds during oral arguments on June 5.
“The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents. The single, integrated project includes Bomb Shelters, State of the Art Hospital and Medical Facilities, Protective Partitioning, Top Secret Military Facilities, Structures and Equipment, Protective Missile Resistant Steel, Columns, Roofs, and Beams, Drone Proof Ceilings and Roofs, Military Grade Venting, and Bullet, Ballistic, and Blast Proof Glass. It is all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit, which is vital for National Security and Military Operations of the United States of America!”
Donald Trump, U.S. President
The National Trust and Preservationist Opposition
The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued that the administration’s actions ignored the constitutional separation of powers. Thaddeus Heuer, an attorney representing the preservation group, told the court that the administration simply didn’t want to go to Congress.
Following the appellate decision, Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust, welcomed the outcome and emphasized public ownership of the estate. The White House, a global landmark that symbolizes American identity and the ideals of democracy, belongs to the American people,
Leggs said in a statement.
Escalating Costs and Private Versus Public Funding
Financial estimates for the project have climbed significantly since plans were first unveiled in July 2025. Although Trump initially promised that private donations would cover the expense, the project’s price tag has soared to an estimated $600 million, up $400 million from Trump’s initial estimate.
That analysis indicated that taxpayers are projected to cover roughly half of the cost.
Supreme Court Appeal and What Happens Next
President Trump denounced the appellate decision on Truth Social as horrendous, politically motivated and unlawful, confirming that his administration will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. While the lower court’s injunction blocks above-ground building work, it has allowed below-ground national security-related construction to continue.
With the appeals court granting a 14-day stay, the immediate next phase centers on the Supreme Court, where the administration must seek relief before the temporary reprieve expires.
