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President Trump said today he will appeal directly to the Supreme Court after a federal appeals court ruled his administration lacks the authority to build a $400 million ballroom at the White House without congressional approval.
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled 2-1 that the massive above-ground construction project must stop, upholding a lower court’s decision. The panel found that Congress, not the president, holds control over major construction decisions affecting the White House. Judges wrote that whether a massive ballroom should be built is a decision for Congress, not something the executive branch can decide on its own. The court also noted that every president serves as a temporary resident of the White House rather than its owner, meaning no president can fundamentally reshape the building without lawmakers’ approval.
What the ruling actually blocks and what it allows
The ruling does not stop every part of the project. Below-ground construction, including work tied to a security bunker, can continue under the court’s order. Above-ground work on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom itself must halt. The panel also stayed its own ruling for 14 days, giving the administration a window to appeal before the pause takes full effect.
Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, dissented from the majority. She argued the lower court overstepped by asserting control over construction at the president’s home and office. The two judges in the majority, Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia, disagreed, writing that the administration could not stretch a narrow safety-and-security exception to cover the entire ballroom project.
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How Trump responded to the court’s decision
Trump reacted strongly on Truth Social, calling the ruling horrendous, politically motivated and unlawful. He argued the decision endangers the safety of everyone who works at or visits the White House, including future presidents, foreign heads of state and other dignitaries. He described the broader project as serving a national security purpose, framing the ballroom and its underground components together as a protective complex for the country.
Trump has consistently argued the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the group that filed the original lawsuit, lacks legal standing to challenge the project at all. He has also emphasized that private donations are funding the ballroom, arguing the project costs taxpayers nothing directly.
What happens next in the legal fight
Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, welcomed the ruling. He said the decision carries added significance during the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, framing the White House as a landmark belonging to the American people rather than to any single administration.
The case now heads toward the Supreme Court, where justices will decide whether to take up the dispute before the 14-day stay expires. The underlying legal question, whether a president can unilaterally reshape a section of the White House without congressional authorization, remains unresolved and could ultimately reach a final decision only after the nation’s highest court weighs in.
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