Federal judge halts Trump's $400 million White House ballroom, rules president can't build without Congress

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon halted construction of President Trump's planned White House ballroom on March 31, 2026, ruling that no federal law gives the president authority to build a major addition on government property without congressional authorization. Leon, a George W. Bush appointee on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, granted a preliminary injunction in National Trust for Historic Preservation v. National Park Service.

The project had already demolished the historic East Wing — built in 1942 during Franklin Roosevelt's administration as a wartime addition — and begun vertical construction before Leon intervened. Leon wrote in his ruling: "The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner."

Leon found that no existing law "comes close" to giving the president authority to rebuild the White House's physical structure on this scale without Congress approving funding or authorizing the project. The administration argued the president has inherent authority over the White House as the executive residence. Leon rejected that argument, finding it would let the president convert a historic government building into a private construction project with no legislative check.

The planned ballroom is 90,000 square feet. ABC News reported the project cost was cited at $300 million for construction, with Trump touting $400 million in private donations to cover the above-ground ballroom. The East Wing housed the offices of the First Lady's staff, the White House Social Secretary, and the White House Military Office. Its demolition was irreversible before the court acted.

Leon's preliminary injunction halted all above-ground ballroom construction but allowed below-ground work to continue, including national security-related infrastructure. The Trump administration appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit within hours. The D.C. Circuit was subsequently told to reconsider the national security implications of halting construction.

The Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 9, Clause 7) provides that "no money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law." The administration used private donations to fund the project specifically to avoid this clause. Leon's ruling found the constitutional issue wasn't only about Treasury funds — it was about what the executive branch can physically do to government property without any congressional approval.

Comparable White House construction has always had congressional backing. Andrew Jackson's 1833 additions and Harry Truman's 1948-1952 structural renovation — a complete gutting and rebuilding funded by a congressional appropriation — both required Congress to authorize spending. The Trump ballroom project was the first major structural addition to the White House attempted without any congressional authorization or appropriation.

The case put separation of powers at the center of a construction dispute. Even within the executive branch's own residence, Congress retains authority over significant modifications to federal property through its power of the purse and its oversight of government buildings. PBS reported that Leon's order would take effect within 14 days, giving the administration time to pursue emergency appellate relief — which it immediately sought.