A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with construction of a nearly $400 million White House ballroom, siding with challengers who argued the project exceeded executive authority.
The ruling 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’s authority to carry out the overhaul.
In a sharply worded ruling, the judge said the administration cannot proceed without Congress explicitly signing off on the plan, stressing that the Constitution gives lawmakers — not the executive branch — authority over federal property and spending.
“Unless and until Congress blesses this project through statutory authorization, construction has to stop,” the judge wrote. “And the American people will benefit from the branches of Government exercising their constitutionally prescribed roles. Not a bad outcome, that!”
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.
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.
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The administration has argued the project would come at “zero cost to the American taxpayer,” although that unconventional funding structure has fueled legal and ethical concerns at the center of the case.
This is a developing story and will be updated.