Appeals court says Trump lacks authority to build White House ballroom, teeing up Supreme Court fight

TL;DR

A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration lacks the authority to unilaterally build a new 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House.
The court found that the $400 million project requires congressional approval, citing Congress's constitutional control over federal property and funding.
President Trump announced plans to appeal the 2-1 decision directly to the Supreme Court.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to block the project, arguing the administration failed to adhere to federal guidelines.
The ruling allows underground construction, including a bunker, to continue, but halts above-ground work on the East Wing ballroom.
The administration had argued that routine maintenance statutes provided justification and that the ballroom was needed for national security.

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