A US appeals court has upheld an order blocking construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, setting the stage for a potential Supreme Court battle over the limits of presidential authority.
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 in favour of maintaining a lower court’s order that halted major work on the project. The court had previously allowed construction to continue temporarily while it considered the case.
The judges in the majority concluded that extensive alterations to the White House complex require explicit congressional authorisation. However, the court delayed enforcement of its decision for two weeks to give the Trump administration an opportunity to seek intervention from the Supreme Court.
Trump reacted angrily to the ruling, describing it as “horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful.” He also vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court.
In a lengthy social media post, the president argued that the decision posed a serious national security concern and criticised the court’s intervention in a project he considers important to the White House.
Trump initially presented the ballroom as a solution to the limited space available for large official events. He has also highlighted planned security features, including an underground military bunker and other protective infrastructure.
Under the district court’s earlier order, construction of certain underground structures could continue, while major work on the ballroom itself remained suspended.
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The appeals court’s majority stressed that its decision was not based on whether the proposed ballroom was desirable or whether the project should ultimately be approved. Instead, the judges focused on whether the administration had the legal authority to proceed without congressional approval while the case remains under litigation.
Trump ordered the project after arguing that the White House lacks adequate space to host large gatherings and diplomatic events. Construction involved the demolition of the historic East Wing, followed by work on an extensive underground complex.
The project has also faced questions over its cost and financing. Although Trump has said the ballroom would be privately funded, reports have indicated that taxpayers could ultimately bear a substantial portion of the expense, with estimates reaching as high as $600 million.
The ballroom forms part of Trump’s broader plans to reshape the White House and other prominent sites in Washington before his current term ends in 2029.
Several of the president’s proposed projects have faced legal challenges, but the ballroom dispute could become the first of those initiatives to reach the US Supreme Court, making the case significant beyond the construction project itself.
AFP
