A federal appeals court has allowed President Donald Trump to resume full construction of his $400 million White House ballroom, overturning a lower court judge's order that had halted above-ground work on the controversial project.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted an administrative stay late Friday, permitting construction to continue until a scheduled hearing on June 5. The three-judge panel's decision reverses U.S. District Judge Richard Leon's Thursday ruling that blocked above-ground construction while allowing underground work to proceed.
The ballroom project involves demolishing the historic East Wing, constructed in 1902, to build an 8,400-square-meter facility capable of hosting 1,350 guests. Construction began in October with private funding covering the project costs, though security expenses remain taxpayer-funded.
Judge Leon had ruled that the project required congressional approval, rejecting the Trump administration's classification of the ballroom as vital for national security. The judge characterized this reclassification as an attempted workaround of legal requirements.
National security is not a blank cheque to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity
Richard Leon, U.S. District Judge — BBC
The legal challenge stems from a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues the White House violated federal law by beginning construction without filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission or seeking congressional authorization.
Trump defended the project on his Truth Social platform, framing it as essential infrastructure for presidential operations. He described the complex as including bomb shelters and medical facilities integrated with the ballroom structure.
It's 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 — BBC
The Justice Department's appeal argued that halting construction would endanger presidential security and leave a dangerous excavation site adjacent to the Executive Residence. The administration maintains that private donations fully fund the construction costs.
The appeals court had previously ordered Judge Leon to reconsider national security implications after he initially blocked all construction in March. Leon's revised Thursday ruling attempted to balance security concerns with legal oversight requirements.
The June 5 hearing will determine whether construction can continue beyond the temporary stay. The case highlights tensions between presidential authority over White House modifications and congressional oversight of federal property alterations.