Appeals Court Halts White House Ballroom Construction Without Congressional Approval
A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled that President Trump's administration cannot proceed with the construction of a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom without congressional approval. The court upheld a previous order halting above-ground construction, stating that such a project…
Philadelphia, PA, August 7, 2026 —
A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. has ruled that the Trump administration cannot move forward with the construction of a 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom without securing congressional approval.
The court’s decision on Tuesday upheld a prior order that had halted any above-ground construction of the proposed facility. According to the court, projects of this nature necessitate authorization from Congress.
The ruling came despite arguments from the Trump administration that the project was crucial for national security and that it would be funded through private donations. The specifics of the previous order and the arguments presented before the appeals court were not detailed.
President Trump publicly criticized the court’s decision, describing it as “unjust.” He announced his intention to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, reiterating his stance on the project’s national security importance and its reliance on private funding.
The status of the legal proceedings following this appeals court ruling means that above-ground construction remains prohibited. Further details regarding the congressional approval process or the specific legal grounds for the court’s decision were not immediately available.
The potential for an appeal to the Supreme Court indicates that the legal battle over the White House ballroom project is likely to continue. The precise timeline for any potential Supreme Court review was not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by DARLENE SUPERVILLE and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
