Court Blocks Trump's $400M White House Ballroom Project

On [date not specified], the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 ruling blocking the Trump administration from proceeding with a $400 million ballroom project on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House.

The court stated that each president is merely a temporary tenant and cannot make fundamental changes without congressional approval. This ruling upheld a preliminary injunction from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which had sued after the administration began construction without authorization.

The court's decision allows for a 14-day period for the Trump administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump criticized the ruling as politically motivated and claimed the ballroom was necessary for security, describing it as a "military center." National Trust President Brent Leggs hailed the ruling as a victory for public opinion regarding historic sites. The case follows previous legal challenges regarding Trump's influence on national monuments and government buildings.