President Trump Needs Congressional Approval for ‘Massive’ White House Ballroom, Court Rules

A federal appeals court ruled that President Donald Trump has not been authorized to build the $400 million White House ballroom on the site of the now-demolished East Wing.

“Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help,” read the Friday, August 7 ruling from a three-judge panel, per the Associated Press.

“This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom,” the court continued, upholding an April ruling that ordered the halt of all above-ground construction.

The project will need congressional approval to move forward, the court noted, but agreed to hold the ruling for 14 days so that the administration can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the AP reported.

The ruling comes as part of the lawsuit the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed to stop the 90,000-square-foot addition to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in December 2025.

As the National Enquirer previously reported, the Trump administration’s lawyers have argued that the upgrades to the East Wing, which include an underground bunker, are necessary for national security.

In May, Senate Republicans asked for $1 billion to pay for the modernization project but later dropped the request amid opposition, per the BBC.

The president, 80, acknowledged in a May 6 Truth Social post that the construction budget had doubled, but insisted the cost was necessary, promising the completed project “will be magnificent, safe, and secure!”