The Trump administration on Friday asked the United States Supreme Court to allow it to resume construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, days after a federal appeals court ruled the project lacked congressional authorisation. The emergency filing seeks to hold in abeyance a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit while the administration prepares a full appeal.
Appeals Court Ruling and the 14-Day Window
According to Reuters, the DC Circuit had given the administration 14 days to seek relief at the Supreme Court before its order took effect. The appeals court ruled 2-1 on August 7 that Congress, not the executive branch, must authorise the ballroom project before construction can resume.
The administration's filing argues that the project is "vitally required by national security," pointing to several assassination attempts against President Trump as justification. Justice Department lawyers described the case as involving "an extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex, including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White House."
National Security Framing and the President's Response
Trump had previously called the structure a "military centre" in a post on Truth Social, saying it would include bomb shelters, medical facilities, and shielding from drones and missiles, all incorporated into what he described as "one big, expensive, and very complex unit." He labelled the DC Circuit's ruling "horrendous" and politically motivated, warning that it left him, White House officials, and visitors exposed to attack.
"This unjust decision must be overturned by the Supreme Court in its entirety," he wrote. The administration's filing to the Supreme Court requests that the ruling be held in abeyance while it prepares a full appeal.
Court's Rationale and the Historic Preservation Challenge
The DC Circuit upheld a lower court's halt on above-ground construction, writing: "Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help." The court also rejected the administration's national security framing, noting that such arguments "are not an automatic get-out-of-law-free card." Importantly, the court did not permanently bar the project, but blocked above-ground work until Congress grants the necessary approval.
The legal challenge was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued after the administration demolished the East Wing and began building the 90,000-square-foot structure without seeking congressional authorisation. The court's decision means that above-ground construction remains halted until Congress authorises the project, a process that could take months or longer.
