Washington: The US federal appeals court has halted above-ground construction of Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom project.

What is Trump’s White House ballroom project?

US President Donald Trump’s planned $400 million White House ballroom project is a major expansion plan aimed at adding a large event space to the presidential complex in Washington, DC. The proposed ballroom covers around 90,000 square feet and is intended to host large official gatherings, receptions and state events.

The Trump administration has said the facility is needed to improve the White House’s capacity for major events and enhance security arrangements. Trump has defended the project, saying the final structure would be larger and of higher quality than the original proposal.

US court blocks construction of Trump’s ballroom project

The project suffered a setback after the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction stopping above-ground construction work.

The 2-1 ruling temporarily blocks further construction activity on the ballroom while the legal dispute continues. However, the court paused the order for 14 days, allowing the Trump administration time to seek possible intervention from the US Supreme Court.

Why did the court stop the White House ballroom plan?

The legal challenge focuses on whether the president has the authority to undertake a large-scale construction project at the White House complex without approval from Congress.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit after the administration demolished the White House’s East Wing and began work on the proposed ballroom. The group argued that changes to such a historic site required proper legal approvals.

A lower court had earlier stopped above-ground construction while allowing underground work to continue, questioning whether existing laws gave the president enough authority to proceed with the project.

Trump administration’s defence of the project

The administration has argued that the ballroom is necessary for hosting large events and improving security at the White House.

Justice Department lawyer Yaakov Roth defended the project during court proceedings, arguing that courts should not interfere with a privately funded construction effort. He also said the changes were linked to security concerns involving the presidential complex.

The preservation group, however, argued that the administration bypassed Congress by moving ahead with the construction.

What happens next for the $400 million ballroom?

The court ruling does not permanently cancel the ballroom project but pauses above-ground construction while legal proceedings continue.

The Trump administration can challenge the ruling before the US Supreme Court. The future of the project will depend on whether courts decide that the president has the authority to proceed with such a major modification of the White House grounds.

The ballroom plan has become a broader debate over presidential authority, preservation of historic government buildings and changes to one of America’s most recognisable landmarks.

Supporters of the project say the White House needs modern facilities for large-scale events, while critics argue that major changes to the historic complex require greater oversight and approval.

Meanwhile Trump rejected a report by The Washington Post that alleged he expressed frustration with United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a meeting at Camp David over concerns about depleted US weapons stockpiles. Trump called the report “completely false” and said he was “extremely happy” with Hegseth’s performance.

The report had claimed that Trump questioned Hegseth over shortages of key military equipment, including long-range missiles and air-defence interceptors, amid pressure on US military resources due to ongoing conflicts. Hegseth and the Pentagon also denied the claims, saying he had not misled the president about weapons availability.