Judge allows Trump's $400M ballroom project

The legal challenge to the $400 million White House ballroom project was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress to preserve historic sites, argued that Donald Trump began demolition and construction without legally required reviews and congressional authorization. The lawsuit alleged violations of the National Capital Planning Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the U.S. Constitution's property clause, which gives Congress oversight of federal property. The group sought to halt the project until it underwent independent reviews and received public input. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon denied the request to temporarily stop construction, stating that the preservation group was unlikely to succeed on the initial merits of its case. However, the judge suggested the group could have more success if they amended their lawsuit to focus on whether the president has the statutory authority to proceed with the project without congressional approval and with private funds. The new 90,000-square-foot ballroom is intended to host large events like state dinners for up to 1,000 guests, a significant increase from the East Room's capacity of about 200. The project is being funded entirely by private donors, with the White House stating that no taxpayer money is being used. To make way for the new ballroom, the White House's East Wing was demolished in October 2025. Trump has also appointed allies to the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, the two federal panels that would typically review such a project. In addition to the ballroom, the White House is also considering a one-story addition to the West Wing colonnade to maintain architectural symmetry. There are also plans for renovations to the White House visitors' entrance and Lafayette Park.