A federal appeals court has halted construction on a controversial ballroom project at the White House, ruling that such significant alterations require congressional approval. The three-judge panel, in a 2-1 decision, affirmed a federal judge's previous orders that blocked above-ground construction.
"Congress has not ceded unfettered authority to the Executive Branch to dramatically redesign, reshape, and reconstruct the White House — the People's House — to fit a particular President's desires," the panel stated in its opinion. Judges emphasized that the President serves as a "temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence."
The court's ruling asserts that the President "has no — and claims no — constitutionally assigned authority over that property, which is designed and maintained for the use of all Presidents, current and future, and for the American people." The decision specifically addresses the need for congressional authorization for construction, stating, "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide."
The administration had appealed to the court after a federal judge twice blocked above-ground work on the ballroom, though underground construction was permitted to continue. The Friday ruling upholds the block on above-ground construction. The appeals court has suspended its ruling for 14 days to allow the Trump administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Construction at the site where the East Wing previously stood had been ordered to stop. However, a court delay in April allowed work to continue while the appeals court reviewed briefs and heard arguments.
President Trump has stated the new ballroom is necessary to "accommodate people for grand parties, State Visits" and has deemed it "vital for National Security," particularly after an assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. The appeals court panel clarified that its ruling does not comment on the desirability of the proposed ballroom or whether the administration may ultimately construct it. "What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court's expeditious litigation without securing Congress's authorization, as the Constitution and laws require," the order concluded.