politics
Appeals court says Trump lacks authority to build White House ballroom, teeing up Supreme Court fight
Updated on: August 7, 2026 / 5:31 PM EDT / CBS News
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.