DC Circuit upheld order blocking above-ground construction but gives Trump two weeks to seek Supreme Court intervention
A US appeals court on Friday dealt a setback to President Donald Trump’s plans to build a new ballroom at the White House, upholding a lower court order that construction must be halted because the project had not received approval from Congress.
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, which had temporarily allowed construction to continue while it reviewed the case, upheld the earlier ruling but put its decision on hold for two weeks. The pause gives the Trump administration time to seek intervention from the US Supreme Court.
A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 in favour of upholding the district court’s order to stop above-ground construction. However, work below ground can continue, including construction related to a planned military bunker.
“This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom,” the majority said.
“What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court’s expeditious litigation without securing Congress’s authorization, as the Constitution and laws require.”
Meanwhile, Trump vowed to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.
“We will be immediately appealing to the United States Supreme Court,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, describing it as “a horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling” that goes against national security interests.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the White House does not have enough space to host large-scale events, including state dinners, and ordered the construction of the ballroom without seeking congressional approval.
The project began last year with the abrupt demolition of the White House’s historic East Wing to make way for the proposed structure.
The ballroom is among several projects Trump has backed as part of his effort to leave a lasting imprint on Washington before the end of his term in 2029.
Other initiatives include plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and other parks, as well as proposals for the construction of a massive arch.
With inputs from agencies
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