opinion
Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump’s $400 million ballroom
The Supreme Court is allowing the White House to continue construction on President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project while his administration appeals a judge’s order halting the work.
The new White House ballroom under construction, built on the demolished East Wing, is pictured, as seen from the Washington Monument, Sunday, August. 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed the White House to continue construction on a $400 million ballroom project as lawsuits play out.
The decision replaces a temporary order from Chief Justice John Roberts previously issued hours before a lower-court decision halting the work would have gone into effect.
The lawsuit will return to lower courts, but documents say that key portions of the project could be complete within months — a quick timeline compared with a typical legal case.
The Trump administration asked the justices to intervene after federal courts found the project must halt because it didn’t have congressional approval.