A federal judge has temporarily stopped construction on President Donald Trump’s controversial $400 million ballroom project at the White House, ruling that it cannot proceed without explicit authorization from Congress.
Trump responded to the ruling on social media, calling the preservation group lawsuit “politically motivated,” and reiterated his view that the ballroom is under budget, ahead of schedule, and being built at no cost to taxpayers. He also expressed confidence in the project’s security features, noting that the design includes bulletproof glass and drone‑proofing as part of its construction, according to the New York Times.
US District Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday after the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued, arguing that demolishing the historic East Wing and building a massive 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom exceeded the president’s authority without legislative consent.
Leon wrote in his ruling that “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have” to undertake such extensive work on the nation’s most iconic residence, Reuters reports.
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The injunction does not prevent all work at the site — essential security‑related construction may continue — but above‑ground development of the palace‑sized ballroom is paused for now. Donald Trump said he plans to appeal the ruling and intends to move forward with construction of his ballroom.
Judge Leon postponed enforcement of his injunction for 14 days, giving Trump time to challenge the decision.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump cited portions of the ruling that, according to him, allow the president to take measures to ensure the “safety and security” of the building and its grounds.
“That’s what we’re doing,” he said, describing the planned features. “Everything’s bulletproof glass. It’s ballistic-proof, very thick — about 45 feet high. Every window is covered, every door is covered. The roof is drone-proof. We have secure air handling systems. Bad things can happen in the air.”
Donald Trump responded to the ruling on social media, calling the preservation group lawsuit “politically motivated,” and reiterated his view that the ballroom is under budget, ahead of schedule, and being built at no cost to taxpayers. Photo: AP
Trump argued that these security considerations justify continuing the project, saying the construction should bypass Congress because private donations from “very rich companies” will finance the ballroom.
“So that means I’m allowed to keep building as necessary,” he said. “It’s about the safety of the president. With all of that in place, we’re okay to proceed.”
Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, emphasized that the president is a steward of the White House, not its owner, and therefore must seek congressional approval before altering its structure in such a substantial way.
The National Trust welcomed Leon’s decision, with its president calling the halt a victory “for the American people” on an undertaking that “forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation.”
