On Friday, President Donald Trump’s $400 million plan to build a massive ballroom at the White House suffered a major legal setback after a federal appeals court ordered his administration to halt above-ground construction.
Appeals Court Blocks White House Ballroom Construction
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from continuing above-ground work on the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the site of the demolished East Wing.
The 2-1 ruling held that the administration had proceeded with the project without obtaining authorization from Congress.
The majority said the president does not have unlimited authority over the White House, noting that the property belongs to the federal government rather than the individual president.
