A federal judge has declined to block President Donald Trump’s proposed $400 million White House ballroom, allowing construction to proceed while a legal fight over executive authority continues to unfold.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected a request by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to issue a preliminary injunction halting the project. The preservation group sued in December, arguing that the administration sidestepped procedural review requirements and congressional authorization before moving to demolish the East Wing to accommodate the expansion.
Leon concluded the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the claims currently before the court. He characterized their arguments as a “ragtag group of theories” under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution. The judge noted that the White House office involved in advancing the project does not qualify as an “agency” under the APA, and he found that the National Trust had not properly structured a legal challenge to the president’s asserted statutory authority to undertake the construction using private funds without congressional approval.
The decision does not end the case, however. Leon expressly invited the National Trust to amend its complaint—particularly to focus on whether the president exceeded statutory authority—and indicated he would move quickly on any revised filing. For now, however, there is no judicial barrier to continuing work on the ballroom.
The National Trust President and CEO Carol Quillen said: “While we are disappointed that the Court did not issue the preliminary injunction, we were pleased that Judge Leon ruled that the National Trust has standing to bring this lawsuit, as we have asserted from the start. We are also pleased that he encouraged us to amend our complaint—specifically, to assert that the President has acted beyond his statutory authority—and we plan to do so promptly. The judge indicated he will rule expeditiously once we do so, and we will await his decision.”
President Trump, for his part, framed the ruling as an unequivocal win. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote: “Great news for America, and our wonderful White House! The Judge on the case of what will be the most beautiful Ballroom anywhere in the World, has just thrown out, and completely erased, the effort to stop its construction. As everyone knows, not one dollar of Taxpayer money is being spent, but rather, all money necessary to build this magnificent building is being put up by Patriot Donors and Contributors.”
The proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom is intended to host major events, including inauguration festivities and state dinners. Trump has said the project is moving “ahead of schedule and under budget,” adding: “It will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!”
According to White House statements, the estimated $400 million cost will be covered entirely through private donations, including contributions from Trump himself. The project recently secured approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and review by the National Capital Planning Commission is set for March 5.
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