Federal judge issues temporary injunction against Trump White House ballroom

Federal Judge Halts White House Ballroom Construction

A federal judge issued an order on Tuesday to stop construction on the White House Ballroom project, siding with preservation advocates who argued it violated federal laws.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon indicated in his decision that the preservation group may have a strong case, stating, “No law comes close to giving the president the powers he claims to have.”

This injunction temporarily pauses work on the ballroom, although the judge has delayed enforcement for 14 days, allowing the White House time to appeal the decision.

Later that afternoon, the Department of Justice filed an appeal with the District of Columbia Circuit Court, officially contesting the district court’s ruling to grant a preliminary injunction against the project.

The lawsuit was initiated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which contended that congressional approval was necessary before the project moved forward. Judge Leon noted that construction could proceed if Congress specifically approves the project or provides funding, highlighting that legislative authority governs federal property and spending.

President Donald Trump criticized the lawsuit on Truth Social, labeling the National Trust as a “radical leftist group of lunatics” and asserting that the Ballroom project was “on budget” and “being built at no taxpayer expense.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that requiring congressional approval was misguided, mentioning that similar past construction projects at the White House had not required such approval. He emphasized that funding for the ballroom came from private donations rather than taxpayer dollars.

The ballroom, which is set to include Greco-Roman columns and cover 90,000 square feet, has been shared in renderings by the president on social media. Since taking office, Trump has spearheaded various renovation projects in Washington, D.C., including the upcoming Trump Kennedy Center and the recent cleanup of the National Mall’s reflecting pool.