The construction of U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom continues in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 14, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
(Washington, DC) – A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately stop construction on a controversial White House ballroom project, ruling that the president overstepped his authority by moving forward without congressional approval.
The decision, handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, blocks work on the planned $400 million ballroom, which had already begun after the demolition of the East Wing of the White House.
In his ruling, Leon made clear that while the president serves as a caretaker of the White House, he does not have unilateral power to make sweeping structural changes.
“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations,” Leon wrote. “He is not, however, the owner.”
The lawsuit was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argued that the administration bypassed required oversight and failed to secure proper approvals before launching construction.
Plans for the ballroom, first announced by Donald Trump, called for a massive new event space capable of hosting nearly 1,000 guests. The administration said the project would be funded through private donations, including contributions from Trump himself.
However, critics say the administration moved too quickly—starting demolition and construction before consulting key federal review bodies, including the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.
Judge Leon’s order temporarily freezes the project while the legal battle plays out, signaling that any major changes to the historic White House complex may ultimately require approval from Congress.
The ruling marks a significant legal setback for the administration’s high-profile renovation effort and raises broader questions about presidential authority over federally owned landmarks.
