Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom was just halted by a judge who said no law gives him the power to remake the White House without Congress

A federal judge has ordered a halt to construction on President Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project. The ruling sparked an immediate reaction from Trump, who criticized the decision and vowed to appeal. The White House called the ruling “egregious” and insisted the president has clear authority to modernize the executive mansion.

Judge Richard Leon, based in Washington DC, ruled that President Trump cannot move forward with such a large-scale project without first getting congressional approval, according to The Sun U.S.. In his 35-page ruling, Leon wrote, “I have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”

He added, “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!” The planned ballroom would cover 90,000 square feet and is estimated to cost around $400 million, funded entirely through private donations. Originally designed for 500 people, the capacity has since been expanded to accommodate up to 1,350 guests.

The judge found the administration’s legal justifications for demolishing the East Wing and building the ballroom unconvincing

The legal battle was set off by a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a nonprofit organization tasked by Congress with preserving historic sites. The group argued that the White House broke the law by starting construction without filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission, skipping an environmental assessment, and failing to get congressional authorization.

They also argued that Trump was violating the US Constitution, which gives Congress the right to manage and dispose of US government property. Carol Quillen, the chief executive of the National Trust, called the ruling a victory for the American people over a project that would permanently change one of the nation’s most iconic places.

Judge Leon was skeptical of the administration’s attempt to justify the project under general White House maintenance laws. He said government lawyers were stretching those laws so far that they could theoretically justify tearing down the entire White House and replacing it with something new, as long as a president called it an “improvement.”

The judge also pointed to the demolition of the East Wing last year, noting that Trump had not identified any law that permitted him to take that step without congressional consent. Construction is already well underway, with the East Room torn down last autumn and foundation work completed before above-ground construction was set to begin next month.

According to the BBC, Trump has made the ballroom a top personal priority, arguing that past presidents have long needed a permanent space to host major events. He recently showcased updated designs and mentioned that the military is also building a “massive complex” beneath the ballroom, suggesting the ballroom “essentially becomes a shed for what’s being built under.”

The White House has also argued the project must move forward partly for national security reasons. Trump has pursued several bold moves on the world stage recently, including his push to annex Greenland amid growing ally concerns.

Judge Leon was not convinced by the security arguments, dismissing them as “grasping at straws” and adding a sarcastic “Please!” He noted that the “large hole” currently beside the White House is a problem of the president’s own making. He also referenced Trump’s remarks about hosting world dignitaries like King Charles III, who is scheduled to visit Washington next month, with Trump specifically saying he did not want King Charles to “sit in a pool of water” in a temporary tent.

The order includes a two-week stay, allowing limited work to continue for safety and security purposes. Trump stated from the Oval Office that the judge was “so wrong” and that security-related work, including bulletproof glass and anti-drone protections, would still proceed.

On Truth Social, he posted, “The National Trust for Historic Preservation sues me for a Ballroom that is under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World.”

The National Capital Planning Commission is still expected to vote on the project on April 2, as the judge’s order blocks construction but not the planning process. The White House has confirmed it will appeal the ruling, continuing a pattern of legal disputes that have also touched other foreign policy efforts, such as Trump’s stalled Hamas disarmament negotiations.