US judge halts above-ground construction of Trump's White House ballroom

A US federal judge has ordered a halt to the above-ground construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project, while permitting underground bunker work to continue.

Judge Richard Leon ruled on April 16, 2026, that the project requires Congressional approval, rejecting claims that it qualifies as a national security necessity.

He stated that national security concerns do not provide a "blank cheque" to bypass legal requirements.

The judge noted that Trump appeared to be attempting to circumvent a prior court order by reclassifying the ballroom as essential for national security.

The Justice Department has filed a notice of appeal against the ruling.

President Trump responded on social media, asserting that the ballroom is "needed now" and that no judge should be allowed to stop the project.

He criticised the judge for allegedly preventing future presidents and world leaders from having a secure meeting place.

This legal setback follows a temporary halt to the project in late March, when the judge found that proper procedures had not been followed before construction began.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation had sued the White House, arguing that construction started without filing plans with the National Capital Planning Commission, without an environmental assessment, and without Congressional authorisation.

#DonaldTrump #WhiteHouse #JudgeRichardLeon #NationalTrustforHistoricPreservation #USCongress #JusticeDepartment