Trump's Supreme Court Bid Faces Major Legal Hurdle

WHO:

Alternet - President Donald Trump

Fortune - U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

Fortune - U.S. District Judge Richard Leon

Fortune - National Trust for Historic Preservation

Fortune - Judges Patricia Millett, Neomi Rao, and Bradley Garcia

WHAT:

Alternet - Trump’s plan to replace the White House East Wing with a new ballroom has faced a major legal setback.

Fortune - A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House.

Fortune - The ballroom is planned to be 90,000 square feet (8,400 square meters).

Fortune - The court ruled in a 2-1 decision that Trump does not have the unilateral authority to construct the ballroom without congressional approval.

Fortune - The appeals court stayed its ruling for two weeks to allow the administration to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fortune - The court stated that the decision on whether to construct the ballroom is for Congress to decide.

WHERE:

Fortune - The construction site is located at the White House, Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

Fortune - The appeals court ruling was made on a Friday.

Fortune - The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December 2025.

Fortune - The U.S. Supreme Court's first oral argument is scheduled for October 5, 2026.

WHY:

Fortune - The court ruled that the construction requires congressional authorization as mandated by the Constitution and laws.

Fortune - Government lawyers argued that the project includes critical security features to protect against various threats.

HOW:

Fortune - The appeals court upheld an order from Judge Richard Leon to halt above-ground work on the ballroom while allowing below-ground work to continue.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 20:40 UTC)

President Trump has encountered a significant legal setback regarding his plan to replace the White House East Wing with a new ballroom, as a federal appeals court has ordered the administration to halt construction on the $400 million project. The court ruled in a 2-1 decision that Trump lacks the unilateral authority to proceed without congressional approval, stating that the decision on the ballroom's construction is ultimately for Congress to decide. While the appeals court has stayed its ruling for two weeks to allow for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the high court's first oral argument is scheduled for October 5, 2026.