Court Halts Trump’s White House Ballroom Project

A US federal appeals court has ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to halt construction of a $400m ballroom on the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing. The Washington-based court ruled 2–1 that the president cannot fundamentally reshape the White House without congressional approval.

The administration demolished the East Wing and began building an approximately 8,360 sq m ballroom without seeking authorization from Congress. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit.

The appeals court emphasized that each president is a “temporary tenant, not the owner” of the White House and that a project of this scale must be decided by Congress.

The injunction applies to above-ground construction and will remain in effect during the lawsuit or until the administration obtains congressional approval.

However, the court delayed the ruling’s effect for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

(Reuters, mja)