The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling that upholds a preliminary injunction against the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House.
This decision follows a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued that the administration failed to seek necessary congressional approval before proceeding with the project. The court's ruling is temporarily on hold for 14 days, allowing the Trump administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. U.S.
District Judge Richard Leon previously blocked above-ground construction, citing a lack of statutory authority for the president to undertake such a project without congressional consent. The administration has defended the ballroom as essential for security and formal functions, despite the project's costs doubling from initial estimates.
The legal challenges highlight ongoing tensions regarding presidential power and the role of Congress in approving significant government expenditures