WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to suspend construction of a $400 million ballroom it demolished the East Wing of the White House to make space for, barring work from proceeding without congressional approval.
AP
Judge orders Trump to halt White House ballroom construction unless Congress OKs it
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Construction cranes being used for the White House ballroom are seen Monday, March 23, 2026, around the White House in Washington.
President Donald Trump speaks about the new ballroom construction March 2, 2026, before a Medal of Honor ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington.
Artist renderings and diagrams of the new White House East Wing and Ballroom, photographed Feb. 17, 2026, were briefly posted on the National Capital Planning Commission's website ahead of a March 5 hearing.
Artist renderings and diagrams of the new White House East Wing and Ballroom,  photographed Feb. 17, 2026, were briefly posted on the National Capital Planning Commission's website ahead of a March 5 hearing.
Construction of the White House ballroom continues March 10, 2026, where the East Wing once stood, as seen from the Washington Monument.
Trump signs order directing creation of a national voter list, a move already facing lawsuit threats
Voting law experts say the order violates the Constitution by attempting to seize the power to run elections from states.
The president scheduled a 9 p.m. EDT speech to discuss the way forward. Watch it live:
The National Capital Planning Commission voted because the ruling does not affect the planning process, a commission spokesperson said.
U.S. President Donald Trump says construction of a new White House ballroom is moving ahead of schedule and under budget, even as legal challe…
Visitors currently line up near Lafayette Park after President Donald Trump tore down the East Wing last fall to build a ballroom.
The members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts are supporters of the Republican president and were appointed by him this year.
"See this pen right here?" he said in a diatribe about a marker customized for the White House. "This pen is an interesting example."
The plans come in tandem with an ongoing effort to get Trump's face on a coin.
The judge said the First Amendment right to free speech "does not tolerate viewpoint discrimination and retaliation of this type."
