A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., blocks President Donald Trump’s administration from continuing most construction on a proposed White House ballroom in a legal challenge brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Multiple outlets report the decision is issued by a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The court upholds a lower-court preliminary injunction, finding that Congress retains authority over regulating the construction and demolition of White House structures and that the executive branch must obtain congressional approval for development affecting the site.
While the ruling blocks above-ground work, it allows construction limited to below-ground activity, including certain installations the administration says are needed for security, according to NBC News and The Hill. The decision does not necessarily mean construction halts immediately in all respects, and outlets note further steps could follow, including possible appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision is described as a setback for the project, which is reported at roughly US$400 million, and the timing of enforcement is discussed as allowing time for the administration to seek review. The case is presented as testing the scope of presidential authority over White House redesigns.
