A federal judge on Thursday declined to halt the Trump administration’s $400 million plan to build a ballroom on the White House grounds, rejecting a request from a historic preservation group seeking to stop the project.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that the National Trust for Historic Preservation was unlikely to prevail in its effort to temporarily block President Donald Trump’s construction plans. Leon said the group’s legal arguments — brought under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution — were based on a “ragtag group of theories” and suggested the lawsuit might have a stronger footing if amended.
In his opinion, Leon wrote that both sides had focused too heavily on the president’s constitutional authority to demolish and rebuild the East Wing, rather than directly challenging the statutory authority Trump cited for moving forward with the project using private funds and without congressional approval.
Trump celebrated the ruling on social media, calling it “Great news for America.” He said the ballroom project was ahead of schedule and under budget and would serve as a lasting symbol of the nation’s greatness.
Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said the organization was disappointed that the court did not grant an injunction. However, she welcomed Leon’s finding that the group has standing to pursue the case and his suggestion that it amend its complaint to argue that the president exceeded his statutory authority.
“We plan to do so promptly,” Quillen said, adding that the judge indicated he would rule quickly once the revised complaint is filed.
The White House unveiled the ballroom proposal over the summer. By late October, the East Wing had been demolished to make way for a 90,000-square-foot venue designed to hold 999 guests. According to the administration, the project will be funded through private donations, including contributions from Trump himself.
The president moved ahead with the initiative before formally consulting two federal review bodies — the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts — both of which he has staffed with allies. The Commission of Fine Arts approved the plan last week, while the planning commission is scheduled to discuss it further at a March 5 meeting.
At a preliminary hearing in December, Leon cautioned the administration against making underground infrastructure decisions — such as plumbing and gas line placement — that could predetermine the scope of the above-ground construction.
Attorneys for the preservation group warned that without court intervention, Trump could be emboldened to pursue even more sweeping changes, potentially targeting other parts of the White House complex, including the West Wing or the Executive Mansion.
“The losers will be the American public,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote, arguing that the ballroom would overwhelm one of the nation’s most historic buildings and violate numerous laws.
Government lawyers countered that above-ground construction is not expected to begin until April and argued the lawsuit is premature because the plans are not yet final. They also noted that past presidents undertook renovation projects — some controversial at the time — without seeking specific congressional approval.
Leon, who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, concluded that the White House office overseeing the project is not an agency subject to the Administrative Procedure Act. He further determined that the preservation group lacked the legal basis to press its claims that the project encroached on Congress’s authority.
As a result, Leon said he could not yet address what he described as the National Trust’s “novel and weighty” statutory arguments.
