A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to stop above-ground construction on Donald Trump's White House ballroom project on Friday. The ruling said the project cannot move forward in that form for now, and it opens a 14-day path to the Supreme Court.
The three-judge panel ruled 2-1 and left in place a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The ballroom project is described as a $400m plan at the White House, with a large entertaining space above ground and a security complex below ground.
Donald Trump and the White House
The administration had already appealed after a federal judge twice blocked above-ground construction while still allowing underground work to proceed. The latest order keeps that restriction in place and gives the administration two weeks before the ruling takes effect.
Donald Trump has said the ballroom is needed to accommodate people for grand parties and State Visits, and he has also called it vital for National Security. He unveiled plans for the ballroom in July 2025, and the project has been mired in legal issues since October, when the Trump administration demolished the East Wing to begin construction.
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued after the East Wing was torn down last year without congressional approval. The preservation group argued there was no basis to disturb the White House and said having a ballroom is not a national security emergency.
The government’s lawyers said the security complex and other features are needed to protect the White House complex from drones, ballistic missiles, biohazards and other threats. The court did not decide whether the ballroom is desirable, only that above-ground construction must stop unless the ruling changes on appeal.
Supreme Court Appeal Window
The 14-day delay now puts the next move on the Trump administration if it wants the Supreme Court to intervene before the order takes effect. The fight is over what can be built at the White House now, not whether the administration still wants the ballroom later.
