A federal appeals court ruled on August 7, 2026, that the Trump administration must stop building its proposed $400 million White House ballroom, finding that the president cannot construct it without approval from Congress.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — the federal appellate court that hears cases from Washington, D.C. — issued the decision in a 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel. The court found that the project lacks congressional authorization and that President Donald Trump does not have unilateral authority to build it (Town & Country; U.S. News & World Report).

The court's official opinion, in case number 26-5123, states the construction would "disrupt the historical continuity of the White House grounds" and "adversely alter the design" of those grounds (DC Circuit opinion). The proposed ballroom, a $400 million structure, has been a point of contention since a district court judge earlier ordered construction halted — a decision the appeals court has now upheld (Los Angeles Times).

Construction will not necessarily stop right away. The court stayed its ruling for two weeks — 14 days — to give the administration time to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court (New York Times).

Trump called the ruling "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful" and vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that brought the original lawsuit, applauded the decision. Brent Leggs, the organization's president and CEO, said the DC Circuit upheld the lower court's preliminary injunction — a court order that blocks an action while a case proceeds — preventing above-ground construction unless Congress acts (Town & Country).

The legal fight has moved quickly. In April 2026, a DC Circuit judge noted that the district court had halted construction based on the alleged aesthetic injury of a single individual and signaled they would stay that preliminary injunction (DC Circuit order, April 2026). By June, an appeals court panel was questioning Trump's authority to erect the ballroom without congressional sign-off, with Judge Patricia Millett saying only Congress could halt the project. Reuters reported at the time that a ruling could come within weeks (Reuters; Associated Press).

That ruling has now arrived. What happens next depends on the Supreme Court, which would decide whether to take up the case before the 14-day stay expires.