Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump Ballroom Construction to Continue

This is the second time this week the court has overturned a lower court's block on the project.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:40pm

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A dynamic, fragmented painting depicting the White House in overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes of dark grey, navy, and muted red, conveying the sense of political tension and legal battles surrounding the proposed ballroom construction.The legal battle over the Trump administration's plans to build a new ballroom at the White House continues to unfold, exposing the political divisions and historic preservation concerns surrounding the project.Washington Today

A U.S. appeals court has granted a temporary stay to allow the Trump administration to continue construction of a $400 million White House ballroom, overturning a lower court order that had paused most above-ground work on the project. The appeals court said the stay was intended to give judges time to review the administration's emergency appeal.

Why it matters

The legal battle over the ballroom construction highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and critics who argue the project requires congressional approval. The case also reflects the broader efforts by Trump to reshape the physical landscape of Washington, D.C. during his presidency.

The details

The National Trust for Historic Preservation had challenged President Trump's authority to demolish the East Wing and proceed with the ballroom construction without congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon initially blocked construction in March, citing the lack of congressional authorization, but later permitted limited underground work tied to national security. The Trump administration argued that halting construction posed 'grave national-security harms' to the White House, the president, and staff.

  • In March, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon initially blocked construction of the ballroom.
  • On April 18, 2026, the appeals court granted a temporary stay to allow construction to continue.
  • The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 5th.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who is overseeing the ballroom construction project at the White House.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

A group that challenged President Trump's authority to demolish the East Wing and proceed with the ballroom construction without congressional approval.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon

The judge who initially blocked construction of the ballroom in March, citing the lack of congressional authorization, but later permitted limited underground work tied to national security.

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What they’re saying

“Congressional approval has never been given on anything, in these circumstances, big or small, having to do with construction at the White House. In this case, even less so, because the Ballroom is being built with Private Donations, no Federal Taxpayer Money!”

— Donald Trump

What’s next

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for June 5th, where the appeals court will further review the administration's emergency appeal.

The takeaway

The legal battle over the Trump ballroom construction highlights the ongoing tensions between the administration and critics who argue the project requires congressional approval. The case reflects the broader efforts by Trump to reshape the physical landscape of Washington, D.C. during his presidency, which have faced significant pushback.