A US appeals court has upheld an order halting construction of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, setting the stage for another legal battle before the Supreme Court.
The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled 2-1 on Friday that the extensive White House renovation requires explicit approval from Congress.
The court temporarily stayed its ruling for two weeks, giving Trump time to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.
Trump reacted angrily to the decision, describing it as “horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful” and vowing to appeal.
The ruling follows an earlier decision by a district court judge that restricted construction on the project. The appeals court said the decision was not about whether the ballroom was desirable but whether the administration could proceed without congressional authorisation.
“This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy,” the majority judges wrote.
The judges said the administration could not continue with the project during the ongoing litigation without securing authorisation from Congress.
White House East Wing Demolished
Trump ordered the construction of the ballroom after repeatedly arguing that the White House lacked enough space for large events, including state dinners.
Work on the project began last year following the demolition of the historic East Wing. Construction has since progressed on an underground complex, with concrete structures reportedly rising above ground.
The administration initially put the cost of the project at about $200 million before increasing the estimate to $400 million. Media reports in June indicated that taxpayer funds were being used, despite Trump’s earlier insistence that the ballroom would be privately financed.
The project could ultimately cost as much as $600 million.
Trump has also linked the development to security infrastructure, including an underground military bunker.
The appeals court ruling is the latest legal challenge facing several major projects associated with Trump’s plans to reshape Washington.
The ballroom case could become the first of those projects to reach the Supreme Court.
