An appeals court has upheld an order stopping work on Donald Trump’s cherished White House ballroom, provoking significant frustration from the U.S. leader and setting the stage for another Supreme Court battle regarding presidential authority.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, which had previously allowed construction to proceed while reviewing the case, concurred with a lower court’s decision that such extensive changes to the White House require explicit Congressional approval. The court delayed its ruling for two weeks to allow Trump time to seek Supreme Court intervention.
Following the 2-1 decision, President Trump expressed his outrage, labeling the ruling as “horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful.” The judges in the majority were appointed by Democratic presidents, while the dissenting judge was appointed by Trump.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court immediately, stating that the decision constitutes a significant national security threat and disgrace. Initially, Trump justified the ballroom’s construction as necessary for hosting events but later emphasized its inclusion of an underground military bunker and other security enhancements.
Under the initial district judge’s order, only a limited set of structures, primarily underground, could continue construction. The majority opinion clarified that their judgment doesn’t concern the ballroom’s desirability or final approval but asserts that such projects cannot proceed without Congressional authorization during ongoing litigation.
Trump had ordered the massive ballroom construction to address what he perceives as insufficient space for grand events in the White House. The project began with the abrupt demolition of the historic East Wing and has since shown substantial work on an underground complex.
Despite Trump’s claims that the ballroom would be privately funded, reports in June indicated substantial taxpayer investment, with costs potentially reaching $600 million—twice the initially cited amount by the White House. The ballroom is part of Trump’s broader vision to leave a lasting mark on Washington before his term concludes in 2029, which includes other significant projects like renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. Many of these projects have encountered legal challenges, but this ballroom initiative is set to become the first to be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
AFP
