A federal appeals court has ordered a halt to the construction of President Trump's new White House ballroom, citing Congress's exclusive authority over such projects. The ruling, issued by a panel of DC circuit judges in a 2-1 decision, stated that "Congress has exclusive authority to regulate the construction and demolition of White House structures."
The majority opinion, authored by judges Patricia Millet and Bradley Garcia, emphasized that the Constitution vests Congress with plenary control over all real property belonging to the United States. They noted that they were "aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for."
Circuit Judge Neomi Rao dissented, arguing that the district court lacked jurisdiction because the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which brought the case, had no standing to stop construction. Rao also suggested the ballroom project falls within the President's authority to make improvements to the Executive Residence and that the district court prioritized aesthetic concerns over government security interests and the risks of leaving an open construction site.
The project, estimated to cost upwards of $600 million, has been a priority for Trump, who aims to host large-scale dinners with enhanced security measures. The court's decision will be paused for 14 days, allowing Trump the option to appeal to the US Supreme Court.