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A US federal judge has ordered a halt to the construction of Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom project.
The project followed the demolition of the historic East Wing last year, which was cleared to make space for the new development. However, Richard Leon, a judge in Washington, issued a preliminary injunction after a legal challenge by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The group argued that the president moved forward without obtaining the required approval from Congress.
Judge Leon, who was appointed by George W. Bush, ruled that construction cannot continue unless lawmakers formally authorise the project. The decision effectively places the 90,000-square-foot ballroom on hold for now.
In his written opinion, the judge stressed that congressional approval is essential before work can proceed, though he noted that lawmakers still have the option to approve the project moving forward.
The Trump administration quickly filed an appeal against the ruling. Shortly after the decision, Trump criticised the National Trust in a post on Truth Social, defending the ballroom as a privately funded initiative that he claimed would be completed under budget and ahead of schedule. He also strongly disagreed with the court’s decision.
Trump further argued that previous White House construction efforts had not required congressional consent. However, historical precedent shows that Harry S. Truman, who oversaw major renovations of the White House between 1949 and 1952, did seek and receive approval from Congress.
Judge Leon highlighted that the president could still request formal authorisation from Congress or propose alternative funding arrangements, ensuring that legislative oversight over federal property and spending is maintained.
The ruling follows months of legal proceedings, during which the judge had previously questioned whether the ballroom project could be classified as a simple modification to the White House grounds.
The estimated cost of the ballroom stands at $400 million, with earlier reports suggesting funding would come from private donors and major corporations, including Meta, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Comcast.
