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By Jenna Sundel and Gabe Whisnant
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A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a planned $400 million ballroom at the White House, siding with preservationists who argue that the president overstepped his authority by demolishing the East Wing.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington granted a request from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for a preliminary injunction, temporarily suspending President Donald Trump’s ballroom project while the case proceeds. Leon, who was nominated to the bench by Republican President George W. Bush, wrote that the preservationist group is likely to prevail.
“I have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have,” Leon wrote.
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“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families,” the judge added. “He is not, however, the owner!”
The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal in response to the judge's decision.
Trump wrote about the ballroom on Truth Social on Tuesday, saying: "The White House Ballroom, and The Trump Kennedy Center, which are under budget, ahead of schedule, and will be among the most magnificent Buildings of their kind anywhere in the World, gets sued by a group that was cut off by Government years ago, but all of the many DISASTERS in our Country are left alone to die. Doesn’t make much sense, does it?"
He said the ballroom is "being built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World." He called the National Trust "a Radical Left Group of Lunatics whose funding was stopped by Congress in 2005."
The National Trust sued to pause the project until it completes multiple independent reviews and receives approval from Congress, arguing that the White House is a national historic asset protected under federal law.
Trump proceeded with the demolition before seeking approvals from the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, two federal panels that review major architectural changes in Washington. Trump has filled both commissions with political allies.
Leon’s order temporarily blocks further construction while the legal challenge continues.
Trump also recently revealed that the U.S. military is building a “massive” complex under the planned White House ballroom.
White House Ballroom: What Is Planned?
The White House announced the ballroom project last summer, describing it as a privately funded expansion. By late October, Trump moved forward by demolishing the East Wing to make way for a 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom that he said would accommodate up to 999 people.
How Is the Ballroom Being Funded?
The White House said the construction would be funded through private donations, including from Trump.
When Was the East Wing Demolished?
Photos taken by the Associated Press on October 23, 2025, showed that the East Wing had been demolished. The wing had contained drawing rooms and offices, including working spaces for first ladies and their staffs.
Who Is U.S. District Judge Richard Leon?
Senior Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was appointed in 2002. He previously worked in private practice in Washington. Prior to and while in private practice, Leon served as counsel to Congress in the investigations of three sitting presidents. He served at the Department of Justice in multiple positions, including deputy assistant attorney general in the environment division and special assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York.
Leon is also an adjunct law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and the George Washington University Law School.
Updates: 3/31/26, 5:41 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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