Trump's $600 Million White House Ballroom Project Halted
A US federal appeals court has ordered a halt to construction on President Donald Trump‘s planned White House ballroom, ruling that the project requires congressional authorization. The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit upheld a lower court’s decision, stating that such a massive White House overhaul needs the explicit consent of Congress. The court granted a two-week stay to allow the Trump Administration time to appeal the ruling to the US Supreme Court.
The Trump Administration had argued that only Congress could stop the construction, but the appeals court disagreed, with two judges appointed by Democratic presidents forming the majority. The dissenting judge was nominated by Trump himself. The president has vowed to immediately appeal to the Supreme Court, calling the ruling “horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful.” Trump has repeatedly pointed to the addition of an underground military bunker and other security features as reasons for the project, which he claims is necessary for national security.
The construction of the ballroom, which could cost as much as $600 million, began last year with the demolition of the White House‘s historic East Wing. While the White House initially cited a $200 million price tag, it quickly doubled the estimate to $400 million. The project is one of several of Trump’s pet projects aimed at leaving his mark on Washington before he leaves office in 2029.
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit’s decision is connected to a prior ruling that major White House structural overhauls require explicit authorization from Congress, a principle that has been tested in several of Trump’s other projects, including a renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
