A federal court has ordered President Donald Trump to halt construction on a massive White House ballroom project following a legal challenge. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 on Friday that the administration must stop work on the East Wing remodel, which has already led to the demolition of the existing East Wing.
The ruling upholds a preliminary injunction sought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization sued the National Park Service last year, arguing that the White House required Congressional authorization to proceed with the extensive remodel. The Trump administration had not sought permission from Congress for the project.
The majority opinion from the appeals court stated that whether to construct such a large ballroom is a decision for Congress, not the executive branch. Judges noted that Congress has not granted the executive branch unlimited authority to redesign the White House.
The ballroom project is estimated to cost $400 million and cover approximately 90,000 square feet. The National Trust for Historic Preservation's lawsuit was filed after the East Wing was torn down last year.
