Appeals Court Permits White House Ballroom Build

A federal appeals court has allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, pausing a lower court's order that had blocked the project while exempting work essential for presidential security. The ruling, issued last week by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, centers on a 90,000-square-foot facility planned for the site of the former East Wing, demolished last fall. The decision highlights the project's ties to an underground bunker with deep roots in White House history.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation challenged the initiative, arguing that the administration overstepped its authority by advancing without required approvals from federal agencies and Congress. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon sided with the group in late March, halting aboveground work but permitting underground security enhancements to continue during a brief stay. The administration's appeal emphasized that the ballroom's structure is vital for protecting subterranean features, including bomb shelters, military installations, and a medical facility.

Matthew Quinn, deputy director of the Secret Service,...