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Is it illegal for the president to spend ‘patriotic’ donations on a White House ballroom or anything else?
The court said private donations cannot bypass congressional approval for the 90,000-square-foot project, leaving the injunction in place.
- Effective today, Aug. 21, 2026, an Appeals Court ruling halts construction of President Donald Trump's estimated $400 million White House ballroom, upholding an injunction pending possible Supreme Court intervention.
- The Court of Appeals for the Columbia Circuit held on Aug. 7 that neither the National Park Service nor Trump satisfied statutory requirements to build on public grounds, ruling that erecting structures requires express congressional authority.
- While the administration argued funding comes from private donations, the Court explained that does not override legislative approval requirements; the White House website states it "is unable to accept cash, checks, bonds & or other monetary equivalents" as gifts.
- The administration demolished the East Wing in Oct. 2025 to clear space, but the Court did not block work on an underground military bunker that proceeded after the building's removal.
- Bureau of Fiscal Services notes that it "may accept gifts donated to the United States Government," an account dating back to 1843, though "patriotic" donations must be devoted exclusively to reducing the national debt.
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources37
Leaning Left5Leaning Right10Center19Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
15%
C 56%
R 29%
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