Preservation group urges Supreme Court to suspend Trump's White House
ballroom project
[August 19, 2026]
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — A historic preservation group that sued to block
construction of President Donald Trump's White House ballroom urged the
U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to suspend the project while it considers
whether the work can continue.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its request less than
a week after the Trump administration asked the nation's highest court
to allow the White House to continue construction on its $400 million
ballroom project during the appeals process.
Lawyers for the trust accused the administration of trying to “outrun
judicial review” rather than obtain permission for the work from
Congress, as required by federal law.
The administration “cannot identify any statute granting them ‘express
authority’ to destroy a third of the White House and replace it with a
massive, privately funded ballroom, because none exists,” trust
attorneys wrote.
The building of the 90,000-square-foot (8,400-square-meter) ballroom has
included demolishing the East Wing of the White House and is part of
Trump’s plans to quickly remake Washington. The project includes the
addition of an underground military facility that the administration
says is necessary to protect the president.
The petition comes after a divided appeals court panel upheld an order
to pause aboveground construction on the project. The ruling was
suspended to let the administration appeal.
The ruling left intact an order by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who
was nominated by Republican President George W. Bush. Leon wrote that
“no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims
to have.”
The administration argues that the president, not Congress or the
courts, has unimpeded authority to renovate the White House. The current
state of the project, essentially an open construction site, makes it
harder to protect the White House, the Justice Department contends.
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Workers continue construction on the new White House ballroom, as
seen from the Washington Monument, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in
Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
The administration also says the National Trust for Historic
Preservation does not have the legal right, or standing, to sue over the
ballroom.
Trust attorneys said the preliminary injunction issued by the lower
court is “already narrowly tailored, and limited in scope and duration.”
“It expressly allows (the administration) to continue building their
underground military facility, to protect the President, his family, and
his staff, and to maintain the safety and security of the White House
complex,” they wrote.
Chief Justice John Roberts had set a deadline of Tuesday for the trust
to respond in writing to the administration's petition. Solicitor
General D. John Sauer, who represents the administration, asked the
Supreme Court to rule on its stay petition before the appeals court
panel’s decision takes effect on Friday.
“This case involves an extraordinary and unlawful injunction that will
halt the ongoing construction of the integrated military complex,
including a totally secure ballroom space, at the East Wing of the White
House, which is vitally required by national security,” Sauer wrote.
The ballroom has been under construction for 10 months. The
administration says the work is roughly 65% finished.
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