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Appeals court rules Trump can't build White House ballroom without congressional approval

Darlene Superville, Associated Press Darlene Superville, Associated Press Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to halt construction of its $400 million ballroom at the White House because the project lacks congressional approval. Trump doesn't have the unilateral authority to build a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom where the White House's East Wing stood before he ordered its demolition last fall, according to the decision by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Republican president said in a post on social media that he would be appealing what he called an "unjust decision" to the U.S. Please check your inbox to confirm.

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Scoop News DeskWashington · Published Friday, August 7, 2026 at 6:34 PM UTCUpdated Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 2:33 AM UTC

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On April 2, Trump's ballroom won final approval from the 12-member National Capital Planning Commission, which is charged with approving construction on federal property in the Washington region. He also described the plans for the facility to include bomb shelters, a hospital and medical facilities, "Top Secret Military Facilities" and other security features. "The Military and Secret Service are viewing this horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful ruling as a National Security threat to our Nation in that the entire Complex is being built for the protection of our Country and, additionally, all future Presidents," Trump wrote.

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Version 2updated
Friday, August 7, 2026 at 8:28 PM UTC
Darlene Superville, Associated Press Darlene Superville, Associated Press Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to halt construction of its $400 million ballroom at the White House because the project lacks congressional approval. Trump doesn't have the unilateral authority to build a 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom where the White House's East Wing stood before he ordered its demolition last fall, according to the decision by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The Republican president said in a post on social media that he would be appealing what he called an "unjust decision" to the U.S. Please check your inbox to confirm.
Version 3unpublished
Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 2:33 AM UTC
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