Trump administration asks appeals court to pause order halting White
House ballroom construction
[April 06, 2026]
By STEPHEN GROVES
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is arguing that a judge's
order to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom creates a security
risk for President Donald Trump as it asks a federal appeals court to
pause the ruling.
In a motion filed Friday, National Park Service lawyers say that the
federal judge's order to suspend construction of the new facility is
“threatening grave national-security harms to the White House, the
President and his family, and the President’s staff.”
“Time is of the essence!” the lawyers write, citing materials that will
be installed to make a “heavily fortified” facility. The ballroom
construction also includes bomb shelters, military installations and a
medical facility, according to the filing. The ballroom is part of
President Donald Trump's plans to quickly remake Washington.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington on Tuesday ordered the
temporary pause of the construction project that has included
demolishing the East Wing of the White House. He concluded that unless
Congress approves the project, the preservationist group suing to stop
it is likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute
comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”
The judge suspended enforcement of his order for 14 days acknowledging
that the administration would appeal his decision.
Leon's ruling and the appeal come the same week a key agency tasked with
approving construction on federal property in the Washington region gave
final approval to the project.
In his ruling Leon, who was nominated by Republican President George W.
Bush, suspended enforcement of his order recognizing that "halting an
ongoing construction project may raise logistical issues.”
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Artist renderings of the new White House East Wing and Ballroom are
photographed Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
Leon also addressed national security in his ruling, saying that he
reviewed information that the government privately submitted to him
and concluded that halting construction wouldn't jeopardize national
security. He exempted any construction work that is necessary for
the safety and security of the White House from the scope of the
injunction.
Trump lashed out at the ruling, but also noted that it would allow
work on underground bunkers and other security measures around the
White House grounds to continue — even though those will be paid for
by taxpayers. Trump has pledged that he, along with private donors,
will cover the costs for the ballroom construction.
But the National Park Service argues in its motion that the
president has “complete authority to renovate the White House” and
the current state of the grounds, which is an open construction
site, make it harder to protect the White House.
“Canvas tents, which are necessary without a ballroom, are
significantly more vulnerable to missiles, drones, and other threats
than a hardened national security facility,” the motion says.
The Trump administration is asking the appeals court to make a
decision on its request by Friday. It also asked that the 14-day
suspension of Leon's order be extended by another two weeks so that
the case can be taken to the Supreme Court.
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