US Supreme Court allows Trump’s ballroom project to continue for now | Donald Trump News
Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Block on Trump’s $400 Million Ballroom Project
By Reuters and The Associated Press
Published August 21, 2026
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a temporary order allowing President Donald Trump to continue with his $400 million White House ballroom project while the court reviews an emergency appeal from the Trump administration. Chief Justice John Roberts signed the order on Friday, pausing a lower court ruling that would have halted much of the development.
The lower courts had mandated a cessation of work, citing the need for congressional approval for the project. This ruling was set to take effect on Friday, but Roberts intervened as he oversees appeals from Washington, D.C.-based cases.
The case highlights ongoing debates over presidential authority, as Trump, a Republican, seeks to enhance his power and modify the physical landscape of the nation’s capital. The Supreme Court, which typically leans conservative, has previously ruled in favor of the Trump administration on various emergency docket issues, although some of the president’s prominent policies have faced setbacks following extensive court reviews.
Trump’s ambitions for a White House ballroom date back to his first term. Reports indicate he approached the Obama administration about the proposal as early as 2010. Since beginning his second term in 2025, Trump has aggressively pursued construction and renovation projects in Washington.
In October, the Trump administration demolished the East Wing of the White House, which had stood for over a century, to make way for the ballroom without public notice. The administration contends that the renovation is essential for national security, although initial plans focused on the need for additional space for state dinners and events. The proposed ballroom is expected to cover approximately 8,400 square meters (90,000 square feet) and would significantly surpass the size of the White House’s main structure.
While Trump has claimed the project will be funded through private donations, critics argue that taxpayer funds have been sought as well.
The project has encountered significant legal challenges. In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit to block its construction, arguing that Trump lacks the unilateral authority to proceed. The preservation group accused the administration of trying to accelerate construction despite existing court injunctions.
According to civil attorneys representing the Trump administration, construction crews are working around the clock, with about 65 percent of the project reportedly completed and $200 million already spent or committed in private donations.
In April, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon halted aboveground construction, affirming that the president is “not the owner” of the White House and that such substantial projects require congressional endorsement. However, he permitted essential work to proceed if it pertained to the safety and security of the White House.
Earlier this month, a three-judge appeals court panel upheld Leon’s injunction. The majority concluded that decisions regarding the construction of the ballroom fall under Congress’s jurisdiction rather than executive actions. One judge, appointed by Trump, dissented, arguing that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue and denounced the injunction as “a blatant abuse of discretion.”
The appeals court ruling was paused for 14 days to allow the Trump administration time to petition the Supreme Court. The deadline for this petition was set to expire on Friday.
