U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ordered President Donald Trump to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom project at the White House until Congress approves it, according to multiple reports.
Key Takeaways
A federal judge ordered President Trump to halt construction on a $400 million ballroom project at the White House until Congress approves it. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued, arguing Trump exceeded his authority by demolishing the East Wing without congressional approval.
- Judge Richard Leon granted a preliminary injunction halting construction
- Construction work necessary for safety and security is exempt from the halt
- Trump administration plans to appeal the decision within 14 days
- Project funded by private donations, including major tech companies
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the administration, arguing that Trump exceeded his authority by demolishing the East Wing without congressional approval. Leon granted their request for a preliminary injunction, stating that "no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have."
Leon suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues and recognizing that the administration is likely to appeal his decision. The judge ruled that any construction work necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House is exempt from the scope of the injunction.
Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the National Trust "a Radical Left Group of Lunatics" and claiming that the ballroom project would be "the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to The Guardian, Trump claimed that the ballroom is being built at no cost to taxpayers.
According to CNBC, National Trust President and CEO Carol Quillen praised the ruling, stating: "We are pleased with Judge Leon's ruling today to order a halt to any further ballroom construction until the Administration complies with the law and obtains express authorization to go forward. This is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation."
The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer, intending to build a 90,000-square-foot structure funded by private donations from businesses including Meta, Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, Google, and Comcast.
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