{"id":2585778,"date":"2026-03-31T16:03:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T20:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-blocks-trump-white-house-ballroom-project-from-proceeding\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:05:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T20:05:20","slug":"judge-blocks-trump-white-house-ballroom-project-from-proceeding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-blocks-trump-white-house-ballroom-project-from-proceeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge blocks Trump White House ballroom project from proceeding"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-blocks-trump-white-house-ballroom-project-from-proceeding%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2585778&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ron-desantis-goes-to-war-over-big-tech-heres-why-this-battle-matters\/\" title=\"Ron DeSantis Goes To War Over Big Tech: Here\u2019s Why This Battle Matters\">federal judge blocked<\/a> the Trump governance from proceeding with the White House\u2019s nearly $400 million ballroom project, halting construction as the court weighs challenges to the administration\u2019s authority. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that the project cannot move forward without <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-appeals-court-rejects-bid-to-block-biden-eviction-moratorium\/\" title=\"Federal Appeals Court Rejects Bid To Block Biden Eviction Moratorium\">explicit congressional authorization<\/a>, since the Constitution vests duty for federal property and spending with legislators. The decision followed a lawsuit by preservation and oversight groups arguing against the overhaul and demolition of the East Wing. The administration contends the project would cost the American taxpayer nothing because it is funded by private donations and President Trump\u2019s personal funds,though concerns about legality and ethics persist. The cost has reportedly ballooned from $200 million to $400 million, and the administration has indicated it may appeal the ruling. This is a developing story.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judge blocks Trump White House construction of $400 million ballroom<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2492563\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\">Trump administration<\/a> from moving forward with construction of a nearly $400 million <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\">White House<\/a> ballroom, siding with challengers who argued the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >project exceeded executive authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645\/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.60.0_3.pdf\">ruling<\/a> by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, marks an early legal setback for the project, pausing development as the court weighs challenges to the administration&rsquo;s authority to carry out the overhaul.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/4509767\/tsa-employees-first-retroactive-paycheck-shutdown\/\">Most TSA employees receive first retroactive paycheck since shutdown<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/4508826\/tsa-officers-paid-monday-homan\/\">TSA officers to be paid as early as Monday, Homan says<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4493922\/sorely-needed-us-housing-supply-expansion-run-through-3d-printed-homes\/\">Sorely needed US housing supply expansion may run through 3D printed homes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-happens-next-after-comey-and-james-cases-dismissed\/\" title=\"What happens next after Comey and James cases dismissed?\">sharply worded ruling<\/a>, the judge said the administration cannot proceed without Congress explicitly signing off on the plan, stressing that the Constitution gives lawmakers &mdash; not the executive branch &mdash; authority over federal property and spending.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop,&rdquo; the judge wrote. &ldquo;And the American people will benefit from the branches&nbsp;of&nbsp;Government exercising their constitutionally prescribed roles. Not a bad outcome, that!&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit was brought by preservation and oversight groups seeking to halt the demolition of the East Wing. The administration is expected to appeal the decision.<\/p>\n<p>The construction of the new White House ballroom, a project whose estimated cost has ballooned from $200 million to $400 million, is being funded through a mix of private donations and personal funds from President Donald Trump. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4509002\/white-house-ballroom-military-bunker\/\">WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM WILL INCLUDE MILITARY BUNKER, TRUMP SAYS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The administration has argued the project would come at &ldquo;zero cost to the American taxpayer,&rdquo; although that unconventional funding structure has fueled legal and ethical concerns at the center of the case.<\/p>\n<p><em>This is a developing story and will be updated.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge blocks Trump&#8217;s White House $400M ballroom project<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2585779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/trump-ballroom-bunker.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[65586,69263,76899,3634,71977],"class_list":["post-2585778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ballroom","tag-court-ruling-2","tag-project-halted","tag-trump","tag-white-house-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/trump-ballroom-bunker.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585778"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585778\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2585782,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585778\/revisions\/2585782"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2585779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}