US Court Blocks President Trump’s $400 Million White House Ballroom Project

WASHINGTON: A federal judge has ordered an immediate halt to construction on President Donald Trump’s ambitious $400 million White House ballroom. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled on Tuesday that the administration lacks the legal authority to proceed without explicit congressional approval. The project, which involved the controversial demolition of the historic East Wing, has been a centerpiece of Trump’s second-term architectural goals.

Judge Leon’s 35-page opinion emphasized that the President is the ‘steward’ of the White House, not its owner. “The President does not have a blank cheque to alter the historic fabric of the White House based on personal preference,” the judge wrote.

The ruling follows a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the legality of using private donations to fund the 90,000-square-foot expansion. Leon added that allowing the project to continue would “irreparably harm” a national treasure.

While the order allows for essential security work to continue, the main construction remains on hold for at least 14 days pending a likely appeal by the Justice Department.

Photo Credits: AFP