Court blocks Trump’s $5M White House ballroom plan

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that Donald Trump cannot build his planned $5 million East Wing ballroom at the White House without first getting approval from Congress. The 2-1 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit halts most construction, allowing only safety and security work to continue. The ruling marks a legal setback for Trump’s effort to expand the White House complex, which he has framed as a restoration of grandeur but critics call an unnecessary and costly overreach.

The dispute traces back to Trump’s 2020 plan to add a 3,000-square-foot ballroom in the East Wing basement, aimed at reviving the social spaces he believed were lacking during his presidency. But the proposal faced immediate pushback from congressional Democrats and historic preservation groups, who argued it violated federal law by altering White House facilities without legislative consent. The case hinges on the 1949 law that requires congressional approval for major alterations to the Executive Residence, a rule designed to prevent presidents from unilaterally reshaping the iconic building.

The appeals court sided with plaintiffs including Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which sued to block the project. In its decision, the panel ruled that the ballroom project qualifies as a “major alteration” under the 1949 statute, triggering the need for congressional sign-off. The majority opinion noted that while presidents have broad authority over White House operations, Congress retains oversight over structural changes that could alter the building’s historic character or function.

The ruling leaves Trump with few options. He can seek a rehearing before the full D.C. Circuit or appeal to the Supreme Court, but both paths are uncertain and could take months. Meanwhile, the White House has already spent millions on preliminary work, much of which must now be paused. The case underscores the limits of presidential power over the Executive Residence and sets a precedent that could deter future leaders from unilaterally expanding White House facilities. For now, the ballroom remains on hold, a symbol of the legal and political constraints even a former president must face when reshaping the People’s House.