Trump administration cleared to continue construction of White House ballroom, court rules

The Guardian US News
by Eric Berger
April 18, 2026
6 views
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

A US appeals court ruled the Trump administration can continue construction of a $400 million White House ballroom.

How This Affects You

This project involves a substantial public expenditure of $400 million at the White House, funded by taxpayer money.

AI Summary

A US appeals court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration can continue construction of a $400 million White House ballroom at the site of the former East Wing. This decision by a three-judge panel of the US court of appeals for Washington DC granted the administration a stay, overturning an earlier order that had halted most aboveground construction. The previous stop to construction resulted from a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged President Donald Trump's authority to raze the East Wing without congressional approval. The court's ruling clears the way for the Trump administration to proceed with the controversial project.

What's Being Done

A US appeals court granted a stay, allowing the Trump administration to proceed with construction of the ballroom.

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