Appeals Court Blocks Trump's White House Ballroom Project

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that President Trump is unlawfully constructing a large new ballroom at the White House. The DC Circuit issued the 2-1 decision in favor of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

• 2-1 ruling sided with the nation's top historic preservation group.
• Court issued an unsigned opinion; one judge dissented.
• Two-week pause gives Trump time to petition the Supreme Court.

Why it matters: The court held that Congress has not granted the executive branch open-ended authority to dramatically reconstruct the White House. It described the president as a temporary occupant, not the property's owner.

How 68 sources split on this story

What’s next: Trump can appeal to the Supreme Court within the two-week window before the ruling takes effect.

• Will the Supreme Court agree to hear the case, and on what timeline?
• What specific historic preservation laws did the court find the construction violates?