Work on a proposed White House ballroom may continue through April 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Saturday, while the Trump administration appeals a lower-court order that had required construction to stop for lack of congressional approval.
The decision by a three-judge panel, 2-1, temporarily stays U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s March ruling that construction must halt by April 14 “until Congress authorizes its completion.” The stay gives the administration time to seek Supreme Court review as the district court proceedings continue.
The project would replace the East Wing and create a neoclassical ballroom expected to seat about 1,000 guests and cost at least $300 million. Demolition of the East Wing began in October to make room for the new space.
President Trump and administration lawyers have defended the work. The president has argued the ballroom is necessary for large events and has raised national security concerns tied to the site, saying military construction under the ballroom — including upgraded, “high-grade bulletproof” protections — would protect an underground facility from threats such as drones.
The ballroom plan was approved in February by the Commission of Fine Arts, a federal review body, whose membership includes a majority appointed by the president.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued in December to block the plan. Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust, said Saturday her group was not concerned that construction would continue for the additional days and that it appreciated the court’s quick action. She said the Trust remains committed to protecting the White House’s historic significance and to broader consultation that, the organization says, produces better outcomes.
The Trump administration did not respond to requests for comment on the appeals court decision.
NPR’s Chloe Veltman contributed to this report.
