US EditionJudge who halted White House ballroom construction allows national security work to proceed at site
The ruling lets security-related excavation continue while rejecting the administration’s claim that all ballroom work qualifies as protected national security construction.
- On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon blocked above-ground construction of the $400 million White House ballroom while permitting below-ground excavations for national security facilities, staying enforcement for seven days to allow potential appeals.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December 2025, arguing the administration bypassed congressional authorization when demolishing the White House East Wing to make way for the ballroom project.
- President Donald Trump defended the $400 million project as "vital for National Security," citing bomb shelters and hospital facilities, but Leon rejected his arguments, writing that "national security is not a blank check to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity."
- Administration officials immediately indicated plans to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, with the seven-day stay providing time to seek Supreme Court review.
- Congressional approval remains necessary for above-ground ballroom construction, as the court maintained the president is a "steward" of the White House rather than its "owner," reinforcing judicial limits on executive power.
170 Articles
170 Articles
Columbus Telegram
News & RecordCourt: Stop the White House ballroom build
WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled again Thursday that President Donald Trump's plan to build a White House ballroom without congressional approval was unlawful, faulting the Republican president for claiming national security requirements demanded the project move forward.
In October, Donald Trump had a whole wing of the White House destroyed by the bulldozer to build this ballroom that was supposed to accommodate up to 1,000 people.
Judge who halted ballroom construction allows below-ground work
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump railed against a federal judge's decision on Thursday that continues to block above-ground construction of a $400 million White House ballroom, allowing only below-ground work on a bunker and other “national security facilities” at the…
Trump Tweets About Standing!
A few days ago, the D.C. Circuit sent the East Wing case back down to Judge Leon. In my view, the plaintiffs clearly have no standing. Judge Rao's separate opinion cogently explains why. Judge Leon, undeterred, ruled against Trump again! The White House can continue with "underground" construction but not "aboveground" construction! I suppose Judge Leon is an expert in construction, as he seems to think these two levels can be separated! His new…
A judge once again declared the construction of the ballroom at the White House illegal. Donald Trump responded immediately.
Trump's ballroom construction blocked once again by judge
U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon again blocked the majority of construction on President Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom in a 10-page opinion issued Thursday. Leon rejected Trump's argument that a national security exception does not permit the entire project to proceed. The…
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