Appeals Court Gives Trump Go-Ahead on Ballroom Build—for Now

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Just one day after construction was halted, a federal appeals court has allowed President Donald Trump to continue building his controversial $400 million White House ballroom project until a full hearing is held.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit late Friday https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/orders/docs/2026/04/26-5123LDSN.pdf" rel="" target="_self" title="https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/orders/docs/2026/04/26-5123LDSN.pdf">temporarily stayed an order issued a day earlier by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon halting the above-ground portion of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the razed East Wing.

Leon allowed only below-ground work on a bunker and other “national security facilities” at the site.

Leon was sharply critical of the East Wing destruction, calling efforts to justify the project on national security grounds “https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/white-house-ballroom-trump-judge.html" rel="" target="_self" title="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/white-house-ballroom-trump-judge.html">incredible, if not disingenuous.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to block construction, arguing that Trump lacked the authority to launch the project without required approvals.

A full hearing is scheduled in the Court of Appeals for June 5.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/appeals-court-gives-donald-trump-go-ahead-on-ballroom-buildfor-now/">Read more at The Daily Beast.