US appeals court halts Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project

A U.S. federal appeals court has ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, dealing the president a major legal setback in a case that could test the limits of executive authority.

The Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled on August 7 that construction must stop on the planned 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-metre) ballroom at the site of the demolished East Wing, Reuters reports. 

"Each ‌President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House," and cannot fundamentally reshape it without congressional approval, the court said in a 2-1 opinion.

The ruling upheld a preliminary injunction secured by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued after the Trump administration demolished the East Wing and began construction without congressional authorisation.

"Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help," the majority wrote.

The appeals court suspended its ruling for 14 days to give the Trump administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump has strongly defended the project, describing the planned structure as a security necessity. In a Truth Social post on August 7, he called it a "military center" and said his administration would appeal.

Trump described the appeals court decision as politically motivated and a threat to national security.

"This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety," Trump wrote.

He later elaborated on his position, arguing that presidents have broad authority to modify and protect the White House without congressional approval.

"Two Judges, one appointed by Barack Hussein Obama, the other by Sleepy Joe Biden, said in a ruling on the desperately needed SECURE Ballroom/Military Complex, including a major DronePort on the roof," he said. 

Commenting on the "temporary tenant" comment, the US president said "We are not tenants, who pay rent and do all other things that a tenant must do, we are PRESIDENTS, elected by the people of the United States of America, and have many rights, including the right to fix, renovate, secure, protect, and beautify the White House grounds, which has been built and rebuilt, renovated and rerenovated, repaired and, simply, MADE BETTER, many times since 1792, and never needing the permission of Congress, or anyone else, to do so."

Trump has said the ballroom would include bomb shelters, medical facilities and protection against drones and missiles, describing the security measures as part of a single complex.

Trump appealed to the D.C. Circuit after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush, twice blocked above-ground construction at the site while allowing underground work to continue.

The administration has described the ballroom as necessary to accommodate large formal functions and improve White House security. The project is among the most ambitious of Trump’s efforts to reshape government buildings and national landmarks in central Washington.

By Sabina Mammadli