Appeals Court Sends Trump White House Ballroom Case Back to Lower Court

A federal appeals court has temporarily allowed construction on President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom to continue while the administration challenges a lower court ruling that halted the project. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision on Saturday, extending the pause on the lower court’s injunction until April 17 to allow further review.

The case was sent back to U.S. District Judge Richard Leon with instructions to clarify the national security implications of stopping the construction. Leon had previously ruled on March 31 that the president lacked the authority to proceed without congressional approval, issuing an injunction that barred work on the ballroom but exempted construction necessary for White House safety and security. The appeals court panel said it lacked sufficient information to determine how much of the project could be suspended without endangering the president, his family, or White House staff.

Government lawyers argued that the ballroom project includes critical security features designed to protect against threats such as drones, ballistic missiles, and biohazards. They emphasized that halting construction could jeopardize the safety of those living and working in the White House. The administration described the facility as “heavily fortified,” including bomb shelters, military installations, and a medical facility beneath the ballroom. However, the appeals court noted conflicting positions from the White House about whether these security upgrades are inseparable from the ballroom construction.

Judge Leon had concluded that the preservationist group challenging the project was likely to succeed because no statute grants the president authority to build the ballroom without congressional approval. “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” Leon wrote.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit in December after the East Wing was demolished, welcomed the appeals court decision. Carol Quillen, the organization’s president and CEO, said, “We appreciate the court of appeals acting quickly and await further clarification from the district court. The National Trust remains committed to honoring the historic significance of the White House, advocating for our collective role as stewards, and demonstrating how broad consultation, including with the American people, results in a better overall outcome.”

The Trump administration has maintained that the ballroom is necessary for hosting large indoor events and foreign leaders, replacing the use of tents on the South Lawn. It also asserted that no taxpayer funds are being used for the ballroom’s construction, though public money is financing underground bunkers and security upgrades.

The appeals court panel consisted of Judges Patricia Millett, Neomi Rao, and Bradley Garcia. Rao, nominated by Trump, dissented, citing a statute allowing the president to make improvements to the White House and emphasizing credible evidence of ongoing security vulnerabilities that would be worsened by halting construction. She argued these concerns outweigh the “generalized aesthetic harms” cited by the preservation group.

The preservation group countered that the security features cited by the government are mostly underground and that the injunction does not prevent work on the bunker. They also noted that the administration previously claimed the underground work was separate from the ballroom construction but later described them as inseparable after the injunction was issued.

The appeals court’s decision allows construction to proceed temporarily while the legal dispute continues, with the lower court expected to provide further clarification on the security issues involved.