A federal appeals court has ordered a halt to the construction of a new White House ballroom, ruling that the project must be approved by Congress. The two-to-one ruling blocks work on the project.
Federal Appeals Court Halts White House Ballroom Construction
The federal appeals panel voted two to one to halt construction, while one voted against. President Donald Trump and his administration have 14 days to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court and the decision is thus not final. Judge Richard Leon stated that no federal law “kommer i nærheten” of granting the president the necessary authority to build the ballroom without getting Congress’s approval. The legal challenge was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which chose to sue the Trump administration shortly after construction started on the site where the historic East Wing of the White House was located.
Escalating Costs and Competing Estimates
The project was announced in July 2025 and was first estimated to cost 200 million dollars. Trump said then that private donors and companies would take the bill. Since then, the price tag has increased several times.
Did you know? While the Trump administration maintains that the price will be around 400 million dollars, according to the contractor leading the work, Clark Construction, the latest estimate is at 600 million dollars. That corresponds to around 5.7 billion kroner.
The plan also entails building a six-story deep bunker below ground, which among other things will house health services and a drone base on the roof.
Security Arguments and Opposition
The Trump administration argues that the ballroom is necessary, not only to be able to hold large formal events, but also to safeguard security in the White House.
Politicians from the Democratic Party expressed their opposition from the start when the plan to demolish the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom became known, and the non-profit organization National Trust for Historic Preservation chose to sue the Trump administration shortly after construction started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who ordered the construction to stop?
A federal appeals court ordered that the construction of a new ballroom at the White House be stopped, with two judges voting to stop the construction while one voted against.
Does the administration have any legal recourse left?
President Donald Trump and his administration have 14 days to appeal the decision to USAs høyesterett.
How much is the project expected to cost?
The Trump-administrasjonen maintains the price will be around 400 million dollars, while the contractor leading the work, Clark Construction, estimates the latest estimate is at 600 million dollars.
What happened to the historic East Wing?
The ballroom is built where the historic East Wing of the White House was located, and the plan involved tearing down the East Wing of the White House to build a ballroom.
What are your thoughts on the court’s decision and the escalating costs of the White House project? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below, and subscribe to our newsletter for real-time updates on federal legal battles.
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