A federal judge in Washington has ordered the Trump administration to suspend construction of a planned multi-million-dollar White House Ballroom.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon on Tuesday, March 31, granted a preliminary injunction sought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, halting the project until it undergoes independent reviews and receives congressional approval.
“I have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have,” Leon, nominated to the bench by former President George W. Bush, wrote in his ruling.
He added, “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!”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit to stop the demolition of the East Wing and the construction of the ballroom.
According to the group, the project required oversight from federal review panels, including the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, as well as congressional approval.
The lawsuit emphasized that the White House is a historic landmark and that major alterations must follow established preservation and review processes. Judge Leon agreed, finding that the administration had bypassed statutory requirements.
Trump’s White House Ballroom plan
The White House announced the ballroom project on July 31, 2025, describing it as a long-awaited addition to the executive residence.
“For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed,” part of the press release stated.
President Trump argued that the East Room’s 200-person capacity was insufficient for hosting major functions. The planned ballroom was designed to seat 650 people and had a total area of 90,000 square feet.
Also Read: Trump White House Scrambles After False Claim on Navy Escorting Tanker in Gulf
The Head of State said the project, valued at approximately $200 million, would eliminate the need for temporary tents erected on the South Lawn during state events.
The White House emphasized that private donations, including contributions from President Trump himself, would fund the construction.
“President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications.”
A later press release on October 21, 2025, described the ballroom as “a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders-in-chief.”
Demolition of the East Wing
By late October 2025, the administration had demolished the East Wing to make way for the ballroom. The East Wing, originally constructed in 1902 and modified in 1942, had undergone multiple renovations over the decades.
The White House said the new ballroom would be “substantially separated from the main building” but designed to match its architectural heritage.
Also Read: Obama-Era Judge Hands Trump a Blow Over Funding Ban Affecting Thousands of Americans
Trump selected McCrery Architects to lead the design, with Clark Construction and AECOM handling construction and engineering.
Architect Jim McCrery said, “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House.”
Response
After the ruling, Trump defended the project in a Truth Social post, insisting it was privately funded and ahead of schedule.
In February 2026, President Trump announced that a federal judge dismissed legal efforts to block the construction of the new, privately funded White House ballroom, which he termed the “most beautiful… in the World”.
“The Judge on the case of what will be the most beautiful Ballroom anywhere in the World, has just thrown out, and completely erased, the effort to stop its construction… It will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!” he said on February 27.
However, Judge Leon’s injunction on Tuesday halts further work on the project until Congress reviews and approves it. The ruling prevents the administration from continuing construction without legislative authorization.
The court found that the President lacked unilateral authority to demolish and rebuild parts of the White House complex.
This ruling marks another courtroom defeat for Trump within hours. Earlier, U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss permanently blocked Trump’s executive order to cut off federal funding for NPR and PBS, ruling that it violated the First Amendment.
