Court Halts White House Ballroom Project, Says Congress Must Approve
A U.S. appeals court has ordered a halt to the White House ballroom construction, ruling Congress must approve the project.
A federal appeals court has ordered a stop to construction of the proposed White House ballroom, ruling that President Donald Trump must first obtain congressional approval before proceeding with the project.
The U.S. Court of Appeals sided with historic preservationists who had filed a lawsuit to block the construction. The court's decision halts work on the ballroom, though it has stayed its own ruling for two weeks to give the administration time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
In its opinion, the court emphasized that the decision is not about the merits of the ballroom itself. "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help," the judges wrote.
The court clarified that its ruling does not necessarily prevent the ballroom from ever being built. Instead, it means the administration cannot proceed during the ongoing litigation without first securing authorization from Congress, as required by the Constitution and federal law.