Federal Judge Allows Construction to Continue on Trump's White House Ballroom

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, according to the judge, could be more successful if it amended its lawsuit.

Rachel Acenas

Published: 2/26/2026, 4:14:26 PM EST

Federal Judge Allows Construction to Continue on Trump's White House Ballroom — The East Wing of the White House is being demolished for the construction of President Donald Trump' s proposed ballroom at the White House on Dec. 1, 2025. (Annabelle Gordon/Reuters)

A federal judge has refused to block the Trump administration from continuing construction of the White House ballroom.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon wrote in his ruling on Thursday that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was unsuccessful on the merits of its challenge to temporarily halt the $400 million project.

But the judge also left open the possibility for the group of preservationists to pursue future legal action, saying the current lawsuit was based on a "ragtag group of theories" under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, according to the judge, could be more successful if it amended its lawsuit.

“Unfortunately for Plaintiff, its challenge fails because the White House office in question is not an ‘agency’ under the APA and because Plaintiff did not bring the ultra vires claim necessary to challenge the President’s statutory authority to complete his construction project with private funds and without congressional approval,” Leon wrote.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation first launched its legal challenge against the Trump administration in December. The group pushed for a preliminary injunction to temporarily halt the ballroom project, claiming the White House started construction unlawfully without congressional approval or review by two federal commissions.

President Donald Trump celebrated Thursday’s ruling and called it “great news for America” and for the White House.

“The Judge on the case of what will be the most beautiful Ballroom anywhere in the World, has just thrown out, and completely erased, the effort to stop its construction,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The White House announced the ballroom project over the summer, saying it would be paid for by private donations, including from Trump himself. Construction required the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a ballroom that Trump said could hold 999 people.

“As everyone knows, not one dollar of Taxpayer money is being spent, but rather, all money necessary to build this magnificent building is being put up by Patriot Donors and Contributors,” Trump added. “The Ballroom construction, which is anticipated to also handle future Inaugurations and large State Visits, is ahead of schedule, and under budget. It will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!”

The attorneys representing the group challenging the project had expressed concerns that a massive ballroom could overwhelm one of the country’s most historically important buildings, and urged the court to intervene after it alleged the president unlawfully moved forward with its construction.

The Trump administration, however, argued that other presidents did not need congressional approval for previous White House renovation projects.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.