Supreme Court Clears White House Ballroom Construction
5-4 Ruling Reverses Lower Court Halts, Allowing $400 Million Project to Proceed Amidst Legal Challenges
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
The US Supreme Court has ruled that construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House can proceed.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the initial legal challenge, arguing a President cannot unilaterally make major, permanent changes to federally owned property without congressional authorization. They pointed directly to the Property Clause of the Constitution.
Government lawyers, however, stated the ballroom project must be completed due to national security concerns. The Trump administration also claimed the project was a necessary part of the White House's renovation, asserting lower court rulings would have caused undue harm.
The administration has argued the president possesses total authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings. The National Trust for Historic Preservation maintains the Administration has no unilateral legal authority—constitutional, statutory, or otherwise—to build a Ballroom on the site of the now-demolished East Wing, unless and until Congress expressly approves.
Liberal-leaning justices reportedly consider the construction "likely unlawful." Two appeals court judges, appointed by Democratic presidents, found the project was for Congress to decide and "not a matter for Executive self-help."
A third judge, appointed by Trump, found the preservationist group challenging the project had no legal right to sue. The National Trust for Historic Preservation accused the White House of trying to "outrun the courts" by accelerating construction.
Outrun the courts.
The Trump administration has stated crews are working 20 hours a day on the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The lawsuit is expected to return to lower courts for further proceedings.