Judge Halts Trump’s $400 Million Ballroom Construction Until Congress ‘Blesses The Project’

A federal judge suspended the President Donald Trump$400 million ballroom project.

US District Judge Richard Leon granted the National Trust for Historic Preservation a request for a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the ballroom project. According to The Hill, Leon wrote in his decision that there is no law “that comes close to giving Trump the authority he says he should do this $400 million project, preventing construction from continuing until Congress approves its completion.”

“Where does this leave us?” Leon wrote. “Unfortunately for the defendants, unless Congress blesses this project with legislative approval, construction must stop!”

Tuesday’s ruling comes a month after Leon said construction of the ballroom could proceed after Preservation (the plaintiff) filed a lawsuit.

At the time, Leon wrote in his decision that “the plaintiff did not present the necessary reason to test the legal authority that the President claims is the basis for carrying out this construction project without the blessing of Congress and private funds.”

Leon said that if the group wants to amend its complaint, he will look at it again, which is what preservation does.

“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of first families,” Leon wrote. “He is not, however, the owner!”

Leon said the president can go to Congress to ask for permission to start building again.

Trump can go to Congress “at any time” to seek authorization to restart construction. The legislative branch could even qualify for ballroom funding, or at least light up another funding program, he noted.

“In any case, Congress will retain its authority over the nation’s assets and its oversight of government spending,” Leon said, according to The Hill.

The president quickly responded through his Truth Social account: “The National Trust for Historic Preservation is suing me for a Ballroom that is under budget, ahead of schedule, built at no cost to the Taxpayer, and will be the most beautiful Building of its kind anywhere in the world,” Trump wrote.

“So, the White House Ballroom, and the Trump Kennedy Center, which is under budget, ahead of schedule, and will be among the most beautiful Buildings of its kind anywhere in the World, is being sued by a group that was cut off by the Government years ago, but all the many DISAGREEMENTS in our country are left alone to die. You don’t make a lot of sense, do you?”

Construction chaos

The 90,000-square-meter project, which began in October 2025 during the government shutdown, has seen significant cost increases since the president began talking about his plans last year. The cost went from $200 million to $300 million, now it has reached $400 million.

The White House said it is funded by private donors, with the president stressing that it is necessary to host state dinners, and upcoming inaugurations, for large crowds. The former ballroom only held about 200 people. The new ballroom is expected to hold about 1,000.

Meanwhile, a state task force reviewing the ballroom plans had planned for an April vote — pushed back after public outcry at a public comment meeting in early March.

The National Capital Planning Commission was expected to hear more details about the ballroom project from the White House and those involved, and then vote on the construction plans. But now, it updates what pubic wrote online.

Comments ranged from calling the ballroom an “overpriced dining room” to “the size and design … are staggering.”