US Court Halts Construction Of Trump's Ballroom Project: 'It Is For Congress To Decide'

Published 7 August 2026 · politics

News world US Court Halts Construction Of Trump's Ballroom Project: 'It Is For Congress To Decide' US Court Halts Construction Of Trump's Ballroom Project: 'It

News world US Court Halts Construction Of Trump's Ballroom Project: 'It Is For Congress To Decide' US Court Halts Construction Of Trump's Ballroom Project: 'It Is For Congress To Decide' Published By, Last Updated: August 07, 2026, 22:52 IST The ruling upheld a preliminary injunction won by the Trust for Historic Preservation after the East Wing was demolished for the project without Congress's approval. The White House helipad and new ballroom extension under construction in Washington, DC on July 24, 2026. (AFP photo) A US federal appeals court on Friday ordered the administration to halt construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom, marking a fresh legal setback for the high-profile project.

The ruling questioned the scope of the US President’s authority to undertake such a major redesign without legislative approval and is expected to be challenged before the Supreme Court. “Whether or not a ⁠massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help," the panel’s majority said. The decision upheld a preliminary injunction secured by the Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed a lawsuit after the administration demolished the East Wing last year to make way for the ballroom project without obtaining congressional authorisation, the BBC reported.

Emphasising Congress’s role in overseeing changes to the White House, the court said, “Congress has not ceded unfettered authority to the Executive Branch to dramatically redesign, reshape, and reconstruct the White House — the People’s House — to fit a particular President’s desires." News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news.

She can be contacted at Manish... Read More Location: Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: August 07, 2026, 22:52 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...