Washington, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A divided federal appeals court in Washington has ordered the administration of US President Donald Trump to halt construction of a proposed $400-million ballroom at the White House, while temporarily staying the ruling for 14 days to allow the administration to seek review by the Supreme Court.
In a 2-1 decision, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit sided with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, challenging the administration’s handling of the project.
The court said the President is a temporary occupant of the White House and does not have unilateral constitutional authority over the property. It also noted that the building is maintained for current and future presidents as well as the American people.
The ruling said there was no known precedent for a US President unilaterally using privately raised funds to demolish substantial portions of the White House after Congress had authorised their construction and taxpayers had financed them.
According to the court, the administration demolished the entire East Wing over three days in October 2025 to make way for a roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The judges said the demolition took place without the consultations that had been promised or congressional approval, and that the project was being financed privately without congressional oversight.
The court has kept its order in abeyance for 14 days, giving the administration time to approach the Supreme Court.
Trump has defended the White House renovation as part of a broader effort to restore the historic building. Speaking from the Rose Garden on July 7, he described the project as both a preservation initiative and a symbol of American strength and renewal.
He has also argued that the United States should have ceremonial facilities comparable to those of other major powers. Referring to a ballroom he had seen in China, Trump said the proposed facility would surpass existing examples elsewhere.
The court ruling now puts the administration’s plans for the ballroom on hold, at least temporarily, as the legal battle moves forward.
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