A U.S. appeals court has allowed the Trump administration to continue construction of a $400 million White House ballroom at the site of the former East Wing for the time being.
The three-judge panel in Washington, D.C. granted a temporary stay of a lower court order that had paused most above-ground work following a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The group had challenged President Donald Trump’s authority to demolish the East Wing and proceed without congressional approval.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon had initially blocked construction in March, citing the lack of congressional authorization.
He later permitted limited underground work tied to national security, provided it did not determine the final scale of the ballroom.
The Trump administration argued that halting construction posed “grave national-security harms” to the White House, the president, and staff.
In granting the stay, the appeals court said the move was intended to give judges time to review the administration’s emergency appeal.
The court emphasized that the decision does not amount to a final ruling on the merits of the case.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 5th.
NEW: An appeals court has ONCE AGAIN overturned an activist judge’s order which BLOCKED the construction of President Trump’s ballroom
This is the SECOND TIME an appeals court has stepped in for this SINGLE CASE
START IMPEACHING ROGUE JUDGES! pic.twitter.com/MllteeoHyI
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 18, 2026
The latest ruling follows days of legal back-and-forth over the project, with a lower court initially halting most construction before allowing limited underground work tied to security.
Just last week, Trump was cleared to continue the project before another activist judge stepped in.
However, that was blocked again on Thursday.
BREAKING: Federal Judge LIMITS Construction on President Trump’s Privately-Funded White House Ballroom – Trump Responds
Trump has stated the ballroom project is being funded by private donors and major corporations and has pushed back against claims it requires Congressional approval.
“Congressional approval has never been given on anything, in these circumstances, big or small, having to do with construction at the White House,” wrote in a recent Truth Social post.
“In this case, even less so, because the Ballroom is being built with Private Donations, no Federal Taxpayer Money!”
The project is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape Washington, D.C., including plans for a large ceremonial arch and renovations to the Kennedy Center.
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