A federal judge has again ordered a pause on construction of a massive new ballroom at the White House, dealing a fresh legal setback to Donald Trump. The ruling from U.S. District Judge Richard Leon rejected the administration’s argument that the project could proceed under national security grounds, calling the justification “incredible, if not disingenuous” in its attempt to bypass an earlier injunction.
The dispute centers on a nearly 90,000-square-foot ballroom planned for the White House complex, a project that has already drawn multiple legal challenges. Judge Leon, appointed by former President George W. Bush, previously allowed limited work to continue on an underground bunker but ruled that above-ground construction required explicit approval from Congress, which has not been granted.
Judge Leon’s latest order emphasized that national security cannot be used as a blanket justification for bypassing statutory requirements. While allowing continued work on the underground bunker and essential structural protections, the court made clear that any above-ground construction must remain halted pending further legal review and potential congressional action.
