US Court halts Trump’s $400m White House Ballroom project

US President Donald Trump’s plan to build a $400 million ballroom at the White House has suffered a major legal setback after a federal appeals court ordered construction to be halted.

A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 on Friday (August 7) to uphold an injunction blocking construction of the proposed ballroom on the White House’s east side.

In its ruling, the court said a president is only a temporary occupant of the White House, not its owner, and that a decision to construct a major new ballroom falls within the authority of Congress, rather than being something the executive branch can undertake unilaterally.

The court, however, allowed work to continue on the project’s underground components, including a planned presidential bunker.

The dispute dates back to October last year, when Trump ordered the complete demolition of the White House’s East Wing within just three days to make way for the project. The proposed structure would cover about 90,000 square feet and was being financed with private funds without congressional approval.

The project drew opposition from historic-preservation groups from the outset. The National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged its legality in court, leading to an injunction by a lower court that was subsequently upheld by the appeals court.

Brent Leggs, president of the organisation, welcomed the ruling, saying Americans have a right to have a say in decisions involving an iconic national symbol such as the White House.

Trump, however, sharply criticised the decision in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. He argued that the proposed facility would be more than a ballroom, describing it as a security centre equipped with a bomb shelter, medical facilities and protection against drones and missiles.

Trump called the ruling “unfair,” “terrible” and politically motivated, warning that it could put him, White House staff and visitors at risk.

The president has 14 days to ask the US Supreme Court to intervene. Trump has already indicated that he intends to appeal and said he expects the justices to overturn what he described as an unjust decision.

Source: Reuters