Federal Judge Halts Aboveground White House Ballroom Construction

A federal judge in Washington ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration cannot proceed with aboveground construction of a proposed 400 million White House ballroom without congressional approval, prompting President Donald Trump to criticize the decision on social media.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, in his latest order, clarified an earlier injunction from March 31 that halted visible work on the 90,000-square-foot structure planned for the site of the demolished East Wing. The ruling allows underground construction to continue, including excavations for bunkers, military installations, and medical facilities deemed essential for national security. Leon specified that the injunction targets only aboveground elements of the ballroom, excluding any belowground security measures or work necessary to secure the site.

The decision followed instructions from a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which earlier this month directed Leon to reassess potential security risks of pausing the project. After reviewing classified materials submitted by government lawyers, Leon concluded that halting aboveground work would not endanger...