Judge questions legality of Trump plan for $400 million White House ballroom

By Selcuk Uysal

ANKARA - A federal judge sharply questioned the Trump administration Thursday over its claim that it can legally proceed with construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House without explicit congressional approval.

US District Judge Richard Leon expressed skepticism during a hearing on a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is seeking to halt the project on the site of the demolished East Wing. The trust argues that the administration bypassed required federal review processes, environmental assessments and public input.

Leon challenged whether President Trump has unilateral authority to demolish and rebuild major portions of the White House using private funds routed through executive offices rather than money appropriated by Congress.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit chartered by Congress in 1949, works to protect historic sites and buildings across the United States. It says the large-scale construction violates federal law and undermines congressional oversight.

According to CBS News, arguments focused on whether the project -- which would add nearly 90,000 square feet and include a secure bunker -- falls under the president’s general authority to repair, alter and improve the White House or instead requires direct congressional authorization.

Attorney Tad Heuer, representing the trust, said federal law requires congressional approval for a project of such magnitude.

Leon criticized the administration’s reliance on a relatively modest annual budget for White House maintenance, calling its interpretation a “very expansive definition” and an “end-run around congressional oversight.”

He also rejected comparisons made by the Justice Department to past, smaller projects, such as President Gerald Ford’s installation of an outdoor swimming pool in 1975 or Trump’s own tennis pavilion during his first term.

“Come on. Be serious,” Leon said in response to those comparisons.

Justice Department official Yaakov Roth argued that the ballroom is being financed entirely through private donations collected by a nonprofit organization, with funds transferred to the National Park Service and then directed to the Executive Residence under Trump’s supervision.

Roth said no taxpayer money is involved and that Trump insisted on keeping planning and financing within the executive branch to avoid spending public funds. He said the project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2028.

Roth also described the trust’s claims of harm as speculative and warned that stopping construction mid-project could pose risks to national security, cause flooding or damage nearby White House structures.

Leon previously denied a request for a temporary restraining order but barred below-ground work that could lock in the ballroom’s final design. The lawsuit was filed on Dec. 12, 2025.

White House renovations have occurred repeatedly throughout US history. The mansion was burned by British forces during the War of 1812 and rebuilt by 1817. Theodore Roosevelt added the West Wing in 1902, while Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the East Wing in the 1930s and added an underground bunker.

Harry Truman oversaw a complete interior reconstruction from 1948 to 1952 because of structural concerns. Ford added the outdoor swimming pool in 1975. During his first term, Trump renovated parts of the Rose Garden, paving sections for practical use while restoring elements of Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1962 design.

Leon said he expects to rule in the coming weeks on whether construction should be paused amid the dispute over presidential authority and historic preservation.