Judge says Trump White House ballroom construction can proceed for now

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Updated Feb. 26, 2026, 1:22 p.m. ET


A federal judge declined to stop President Donald Trump's plan to build a $400 million White House ballroom at the site of the since-demolished East Wing, saying preservationists challenging the move failed to meet the high bar to halt the project for now.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon's ruling comes after the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December against Trump and several federal agencies asking to stop construction on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The non-profitgroup argued that Trump should have sought Congress' authorization prior to the demolition of the East Wing.

The judge said the group did not sufficiently prove the president was exceeding his powers. Rather, it based its challenge “on a ragtag group of theories" under federal law and the Constitution. Still, he said the court would consider additional efforts if the group decides to amend its complaint.

Leon had predicted last month that his verdict wouldn't be the end of the saga. “I know it will be appealed. Whichever side wins, the other side will appeal,” Leon said. “So this case is going to go to the DC Circuit, for certain, and, maybe, perhaps even to the Supreme Court. Who knows?”

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/02/26/trump-white-house-ballroom-construction-judge-ruling/88708099007/

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Link to ORDER (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645/gov.uscourts.dcd.287645.47.0.pdf

REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143551551
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143581414
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143583769
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143603562
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143610720

[Bengus81]

1. Oh sure...you'll approve it now but might stop is later?? Oh please..............

[spooky3]

2. What a dumb thing to say in his quote. A W appointee--no surprise. Nt

[pat_k]

3. Holy crap. Not sufficiently proven??

Unauthorized demolition of the east wing was as much a violation of the property clause of the constitution as an unauthorized bombing of old faithful in Yellowstone would be.

To allow them to continue construction and thus benefit from such a blatant violation is intolerable idiocy.

The decision shouldn't even reach the question of whether privately-financed construction is somehow, magically, exempt from Congressional authority