{"id":2641830,"date":"2026-08-07T12:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-must-get-congresss-approval-for-white-house-ballroom-dc-court-rules\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T12:38:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T16:38:14","slug":"trump-must-get-congresss-approval-for-white-house-ballroom-dc-court-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-must-get-congresss-approval-for-white-house-ballroom-dc-court-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump must get Congress\u2019s approval for White House ballroom, DC court rules"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/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%2Ftrump-must-get-congresss-approval-for-white-house-ballroom-dc-court-rules%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=2641830&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 federal appeals court has ruled that the construction of a new ballroom and renovations at the White House must obtain congressional approval before proceeding. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decided 2-1 that Congress retains control over meaningful changes to the White House&#8217;s structure, despite efforts by the Trump administration to expedite the project. The ruling emphasizes that the constitution assigns Congress the authority to approve such modifications, and executive agencies cannot bypass this process. While the court did not prohibit the construction outright,it mandated that any future efforts must be authorized by Congress,delaying the project and requiring the Biden administration to seek legislative approval. The decision was supported by judges appointed by previous presidents Obama and Biden, wiht a dissent from a Trump appointee, who argued that the courts were overreaching and that the project should continue. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >case underscores ongoing debates<\/a> over executive authority, historic preservation, and security concerns surrounding the White House renovations.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/appeals-courts\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1537\">appeals court<\/a> ordered Friday that the construction of the proposed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8767\">White House<\/a> ballroom must get congressional approval to proceed, dealing President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> another setback in his ambitious project for the executive mansion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/media.cadc.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/docs\/2026\/08\/26-5123-2187096.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/media.cadc.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/docs\/2026\/08\/26-5123-2187096.pdf\">ruled<\/a> 2-1 that construction must stop on the extensive renovation of the East Wing, which includes a new ballroom, because Congress has control over how the White House may be changed, not the executive branch, despite it being the executive mansion. The two judges sided with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a preservationist group, which sued the Trump administration late last year when construction on the ballroom began.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4679106\/don-lemon-dismiss-minnesota-church-protest-case\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Don Lemon moves to dismiss case over Minnesota church protest on selective and vindictive prosecution claims<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4679112\/dc-circuit-congress-approval-white-hosue-ballroom\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump must get Congress\u2019s approval for White House ballroom, DC court rules<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4678389\/anti-abortion-groups-applaud-review-mailing-abortion-drugs\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Anti-abortion groups applaud Blanche review of Biden DOJ policy on mailing abortion drugs<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Constitution assigns Congress\u2014not the Executive\u2014the responsibility to decide whether proposed changes to the physical design of the White House may proceed, even where those changes are said to serve security interests,\u201d the ruling said. \u201cThe Defendants have not shown that Congress delegated that authority to either the President or the National Park Service. Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The majority opinion did leave open the ability for the ballroom to be built, but said it would need to be with the approval of Congress.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\">Construction continues on a helipad and the White House Ballroom on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Tierney L. Cross)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26217654784670_dcb6d2.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Construction continues on a helipad and the White House ballroom on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Tierney L. Cross)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy,\u201d the ruling said. \u201cThis ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom. What it does mean is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court\u2019s expeditious litigation without securing Congress\u2019s authorization, as the Constitution and laws require.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt this preliminary stage, the National Trust has shown, compellingly, that Congress has not ceded unfettered authority to the Executive Branch to dramatically redesign, reshape, and reconstruct the White House\u2014the People\u2019s House\u2014to fit a particular President\u2019s desires,\u201d the ruling continued.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Circuit Judges Patricia Millett, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, and Brad Garcia, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, were the two judges in the majority ruling that construction must be suspended barring congressional approval.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two-judge majority said their ruling would be paused for 14 days to allow for the Justice Department to appeal to the Supreme Court, meaning construction will have to halt in two weeks, unless the high court extends the pause on the D.C. Circuit\u2019s ruling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Circuit Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, was the lone dissenting judge, where she called the lower court\u2019s order to halt construction \u201ca blatant abuse of discretion\u201d and disagreed with the majority\u2019s decision to \u201caffirm this judicial overreach.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause the injunction is beyond the proper province of the federal courts, construction should be allowed to continue. I respectfully dissent,\u201d Rao said, arguing that the National Trust for Historic Preservation had no standing to stop construction of the new East Wing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe ballroom is also likely within the President\u2019s authority to make improvements to the Executive Residence at the White House. Finally, the balance of equities overwhelmingly favors the government,\u201d Rao said in her dissent. \u201cThe district court elevated the aesthetic displeasure of a single passerby over the government\u2019s security interests in the ballroom and the security risks of leaving an open construction site at the President\u2019s home and office. These errors in equitable judgment require vacating the injunction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4596573\/dc-circuit-grills-doj-white-house-bid-continue-building-ballroom\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4596573\">DC CIRCUIT GRILLS DOJ OVER WHITE HOUSE BID TO CONTINUE BUILDING BALLROOM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Justice Department had hinged its arguments largely on the security improvements included with the new East Wing project, claiming that halting construction would <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4581161\/doj-invokes-white-house-shooting-appeal-ballroom-construction\/\">jeopardize the security and safety<\/a> of the president and the White House complex.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s proposed ballroom project has been met with uproar from Democrats and left-wing activists since it was announced last year. The preservationist group\u2019s lawsuit is the main effort to halt the project. While Trump had insisted the project would be fully financed by private donations, his administration attempted to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-slow-walks-plans-to-give-cubans-internet-access\/\" title=\"... Slow-Walks Plans To Give Cubans Internet Access\">secure federal funding<\/a> from Congress for the security improvements to the White House complex as part of the East Wing project, but has been unsuccessful.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Court orders White House ballroom construction halted without Congress approval<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2641831,"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\/08\/AP26217654784670_dcb6d2.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[65586,4402,3634,32127],"class_list":["post-2641830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ballroom","tag-congress","tag-trump","tag-white-house"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26217654784670_dcb6d2.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641830","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\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2641830"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641834,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2641830\/revisions\/2641834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2641831"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2641830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2641830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2641830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}