Posted on 08/07/2026 11:21:12 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Panel says it will give Trump administration two weeks to seek Supreme Court review
WASHINGTON—A federal appeals court on Friday halted aboveground construction on President Trump’s planned White House ballroom, setting up a potential showdown at the Supreme Court over one of the president’s favored projects.
In a 2-1 ruling, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said that only Congress, not the president acting alone, can approve demolitions or design changes to the White House. Trump hasn’t secured congressional approval for the proposed 90,000-square-foot project. The panel upheld a lower-court decision.
“We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for. Until now,” Judges Patricia Millett and Brad Garcia wrote in the majority opinion.
The court put its ruling on hold for two weeks to give the Trump administration a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Trump decried the ruling on social media, saying it “severely jeopardizes the lives and welfare of the people who work, and will be working, at the White House.” He said the administration would immediately seek Supreme Court review.
Last fall, without explicit congressional authorization, construction crews razed the East Wing of the White House at Trump’s direction to make way for the project, which is being funded by private donations. Trump has pledged that it would be funded entirely by private donations, though taxpayers could be on the hook for security-related upgrades tied to...
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
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A federal appeals court has ordered a halt to aboveground construction on President Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
On August 7, 2026, a 2-1 panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld a lower-court injunction, ruling that only Congress—not the president acting alone—can authorize demolitions or major design changes to the White House. Trump has not obtained congressional approval for the roughly 90,000-square-foot project.
Judges Patricia Millett (Obama appointee) and Brad Garcia (Biden appointee) wrote for the majority that there is no historical precedent for a president unilaterally demolishing substantial portions of the White House (using privately raised funds) that Congress authorized and taxpayers paid for. They emphasized that Congress has not given the executive unfettered power to redesign “the People’s House.”
Judge Neomi Rao (Trump appointee) dissented, arguing the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue and that the project likely falls under a statute allowing the president to improve the executive residence.
Background and next steps
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which brought the suit, has not opposed underground security facilities but maintains Congress must decide changes to federal property.
That's what makes it historic. Carry on.
No good deed goes unpunished.
It’s almost a shame the ballroom wasn’t constructed during the Biden administration; the MSM and all the communists would have had nothing but praise.
Almost.
Keep going. What are they going to do?
Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn’t the Executive Branch have the responsibility of managing federal buildings? Congress only allocates funds, not manage anything. Beside wasn’t this private funds for the most part?
Should have called it the Saint Floyd Midnight Basketball Monument. Same design. Same everything. Just slap a stupid label on it to shut up the filthy commies.
Order it to be restored and seize the assets of anyone touching it otherwise
BS.
I guess I get it, since congress approves budgets and spending and all that, but I don’t understand why congress should have to be the gatekeeper for everything the executive branch decides to do. Aside from the money side of it, is this really how the division of powers was supposed to be?
just to drive the cost even higher ?
Did the court cite the law they’re basing their opinion on?
If I’m Trump I ignore the court.
This isn’t done yet??? Where are the Amish?
Ignore them.
Move along.
Trump pisses off
The Right folks!
Sixteen posts and not one citing any legal or regulatory issues.
I’m sure all Federal buildings are covered by a dense legal and regulatory structure.
When the White House was gutted and rebuilt 1948-1952 it was authorized by Congress and supervised by the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion, a 6-member bipartisan group appointed by the President and Congress.
You’re welcome.
Did Harry Truman get Congressional approval to completely gut the original White House leaving only the outside walls standing?
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