Appeals Court Blocks Trump White House Ballroom Construction, Citing Congressional Approval

A federal appeals court on Friday ordered a halt to President Donald Trump's White House ballroom construction project.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled 2-1 that the administration must obtain congressional approval for the project to proceed. The court placed its ruling on hold for 14 days, allowing the Trump administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The proposed project involves a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood.

Historic preservationists initiated a lawsuit to stop the construction. A federal judge had previously ruled to block the ballroom's construction, though allowing below-ground work to continue. The appeals court affirmed this ruling. The appeals court determined the White House lacks the authority to unilaterally construct the ballroom. The ruling states that congressional approval is required for such an extensive renovation of the executive mansion.

The Trump administration has not yet publicly commented on its next steps regarding a potential appeal to the Supreme Court. The project is estimated to cost $400 million. The court's decision specifically requires Congress's consent for the construction. The 14-day hold on the ruling sets a deadline for the Trump administration to decide whether to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.