Appeals court halts Trump's $400 million White House ballroom, citing lack of congressional approval

A divided D.C. Circuit panel on 7 August 2026 ordered the Trump administration to stop building a US$400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, ruling that Congress must authorise the project. The opinion found the structure would "disrupt the historical continuity of the White House grounds." Trump told CBS News he will appeal to the Supreme Court.