A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. has ordered a halt to construction on a major White House renovation project, prompting the president to appeal directly to the Supreme Court. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction that had already suspended work on the 90,000-square-foot ballroom renovation, which carries a price tag of approximately $400 million.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the original legal challenge, arguing that the president failed to obtain proper congressional authorization before beginning the project. The court’s ruling emphasized that presidents serve as temporary occupants of the White House rather than owners, establishing legal constraints on major alterations to the building.
The president responded with a lengthy post on Truth Social, characterizing the court’s decision as incorrect and arguing that the ballroom is essential for national security and the safety of those working at the executive residence. He called on the Supreme Court to completely overturn the appeals court’s decision. The ruling is currently on hold for two weeks, providing time for the appeal to be filed with the nation’s highest court.
Legal analysts suggest the Supreme Court may not accept the case, and even if justices sympathetic to the president are on the bench, they have previously declined to rule in his favor on various matters. The outcome remains uncertain as the case moves through the judicial system.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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