Federal Judge Orders Trump's $400 Million White House Ballroom Construction to Stop

The Ruling

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction halting construction of a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing, ruling that President Donald Trump cannot proceed with the $400 million project without explicit authorization from Congress.

Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, concluded that the National Trust for Historic Preservation — the nonprofit organization that brought the lawsuit — is likely to succeed on its claims because, in Leon's words from his written opinion, no federal statute "comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have."

The judge opened his opinion with a pointed declaration about the limits of presidential power over the White House itself. According to AP's reporting of the ruling, Leon wrote: "The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!"

Leon suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days, acknowledging that the case raises what he called "novel and weighty issues" and that halting an ongoing construction project may raise logistical challenges, according to AP. He also anticipated the administration would appeal — and within hours of the ruling, the Justice Department filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, according to Reuters.

What the Ballroom Project Involves

The ballroom is designed to seat up to 999 guests (Trump has described it as seating 1,000) and would represent the most significant structural change to the White House since President Harry S. Truman added a balcony on the south side of the mansion, according to AP. The White House has said private donations, including from Trump himself, would fund the project. NPR reported the cost at "at least $300 million" based on the president's own estimates, while Reuters and CNN placed the figure at $400 million.

The project required demolishing the East Wing, which was originally constructed in 1902 and expanded during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, according to Reuters. By late October 2025, the East Wing had been razed to make way for the ballroom, AP reported. Construction crews had already dramatically transformed the grounds — visible from the Washington Monument, per AP photographers — before the judge intervened.

Above-ground construction on the ballroom was slated to begin in April, according to AP. The National Capital Planning Commission, one of two federal bodies required to sign off on the project, is scheduled to vote on its approval at a hearing on Thursday, Reuters reported.

The Legal Fight

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit in December 2025, arguing that neither the president nor the National Park Service had authority to tear down the historic East Wing or erect a major new facility without explicit congressional approval, according to Reuters.

Leon initially rejected the group's bid for an injunction in a February ruling, saying the challenge had been based on what he called a "ragtag group" of legal theories, as AP reported. But Leon signaled the group could amend its complaint, and when it did, he moved quickly.

The administration argued that other presidents had not needed congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects, both large and small. Government attorneys wrote that many past projects "were highly controversial in their time yet have since become accepted — even beloved — parts of the White House," according to AP.

Leon rejected this argument. He also rejected the administration's claim that Congress had given the president virtually unilateral authority to construct anything on federal land in Washington regardless of the funding source. As AP reported from the ruling: "This clearly is not how Congress and former Presidents have managed the White House for centuries, and this Court will not be the first to hold that Congress has ceded its powers in such a significant fashion!"

During a March 17 hearing, Leon expressed frustration at what he described as the government's "shifting theories and shifting dynamics," according to AP. The judge also pushed back on efforts by Justice Department attorney Jacob Roth to equate the massive ballroom with more modest construction under previous administrations.

Reactions

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, welcomed the ruling. In a statement reported by both AP and Reuters, she said: "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."

Trump responded on Truth Social, calling the National Trust a group of "lunatics" and criticizing the lawsuit, according to Reuters. He said the ballroom is "under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World," Reuters reported.

In a separate post reported by NPR, Trump complained that the National Trust does not appreciate his efforts at "sprucing up" Washington buildings, writing: "So, the White House Ballroom, and The Trump Kennedy Center, which are under budget, ahead of schedule, and will be among the most magnificent Buildings of their kind anywhere in the World, gets sued by a group that was cut off by Government years ago, but all of the many DISASTERS in our Country are left alone to die. Doesn't make much sense, does it?"

The White House declined to comment beyond the president's social media posts, AP reported.

What Comes Next

The 14-day enforcement pause means construction could technically continue while the administration appeals to the D.C. Circuit. The Justice Department filed its appeal within hours of the ruling, according to Reuters.

Leon's order exempts any construction work necessary for the safety and security of the White House — a carve-out that, as NPR noted, appears to allow continued work on a secure bunker being constructed beneath the building. Leon said he reviewed classified material the government submitted privately before concluding that halting ballroom construction would not jeopardize national security, AP reported.

The ruling comes two days before the National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the ballroom plans on Thursday, according to both AP and Reuters. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, composed entirely of Trump appointees, voted 6-0 in February to approve the design, Reuters reported. NPR noted that the commission had received more than 2,000 public comments, which according to staff were 99% negative.

The National Trust is also a plaintiff in a related lawsuit challenging the administration's planned overhaul of the Kennedy Center, according to Reuters.

Broader Context

The ballroom is part of Trump's broader push to reshape Washington's monumental landscape. According to AP, the president's makeover efforts have already included building a patio alongside the Rose Garden, erecting towering flagpoles on the North and South Lawns, renovating bathrooms, adding gold flourishes to the Oval Office and outside colonnade, and plans for a 250-foot ceremonial arch near the Lincoln Memorial.

Leon's ruling marks the first time a court has blocked any element of these sweeping alterations. It raises fundamental questions about the limits of presidential authority over the White House grounds — territory that, as Leon's opinion makes clear, belongs not to any one president but to the nation.