Trump’s Ballroom Project Gets Green Light—For Now

A court just gave the go-ahead for a $400 million ballroom to rise where part of the White House once stood. But this isn’t the final word—just a pause in a legal fight. On Friday night, a federal appeals court put a lower judge’s order on hold, letting construction continue until June. That’s when judges will decide if the project should be frozen while appeals play out. The legal battle started after the East Wing was torn down last year. Critics say the president and park officials didn’t have the power to demolish a historic building without Congress’s say-so. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit, arguing the ballroom breaks the rules. The government, though, calls it a modern upgrade for security and infrastructure.Trump has pushed hard for the ballroom, calling it a key part of his Washington vision. He insists private donors—not taxpayers—foot the bill. But legal experts question whether a president can bypass Congress for big construction projects. The appeals court hasn’t ruled on the case’s merits yet, just whether work can proceed temporarily. Meanwhile, the White House hasn’t commented since the ruling. Neither has the preservation group. The fight now hinges on what happens in June—will the pause hold, or will the ballroom’s future be up in the air again?