A federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to halt aboveground construction of a planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, ruling that the President lacks unilateral authority for such a project without congressional authorization.
The 2-1 decision by a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that Congress must explicitly approve the construction. The ruling, issued earlier this week, has been stayed for 14 days to allow the administration to appeal the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia formed the majority opinion, while Judge Neomi Rao dissented. Notably, all three judges were nominated by presidents from different administrations: Judge Rao by President Donald Trump, Judge Millett by President Barack Obama, and Judge Garcia by President Joe Biden. This composition underscores the legal rather than purely political nature of the court’s deliberation on executive power.
The proposed ballroom, designed to accommodate up to 999 people, was slated for construction on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. The demolition of the East Wing was completed in December 2025, paving the way for the new facility. Just a week after the demolition, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit against the administration, challenging the legality of the project without proper legislative oversight.
The court’s decision upholds a lower-court injunction that had initially paused the construction. The administration had sought to move forward with the project despite significant congressional resistance. In May, Congress explicitly rejected the administration’s request for $1 billion to fund the ballroom. Adding to the controversy, Democrats alleged in June that $350 million from a recent tax cuts law appeared to have been redirected to fund the project, bypassing congressional appropriations processes.
While the ruling prohibits any further aboveground work on the ballroom, it does not impede underground construction. This allows for the continued development of bunkers, military installations, medical facilities, and other national-security facilities planned as part of the broader project. The overall project had received final approval from the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission on April 2, but the court’s decision now places a significant hurdle in the path of the aboveground ballroom component.
The core of the legal dispute centers on the separation of powers and the extent of presidential authority over federal property, particularly a site as historically significant as the White House. The National Trust for Historic Preservation argued that such a substantial alteration to a national landmark required more than executive decree, necessitating the explicit consent and funding allocation from the legislative branch. The court’s majority agreed, emphasizing the constitutional role of Congress in authorizing major federal expenditures and construction projects.
Why it matters in Greer
The federal appeals court’s decision regarding the White House ballroom construction carries implications for residents of Greer by underscoring the principles of fiscal oversight and the separation of powers at the national level. As taxpayers, Greer residents contribute to federal funds, and the debate over how those funds are allocated and spent, particularly for large-scale projects, directly affects public accountability. Institutions like Greer CPW, which manage public resources and infrastructure, operate under strict budgetary and oversight protocols. The court’s ruling reinforces the idea that even the highest levels of government must adhere to established processes for major expenditures, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent with appropriate checks and balances, a principle important to the financial health and transparency of all public entities, including those serving the Greer community.
