A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt construction on its White House ballroom, ruling that its funding lacks Congressional approval. The ruling, which follows months of litigation, delays US President Donald Trump’s $400 million project to replace the demolished East Wing. In his decision, George W. Bush-appointed US District Judge Richard Leon wrote that “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.” “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” Leon stated in his 35-page opinion. The ruling comes after the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit to stop the construction, which began without congressional approval in October. The privately funded nonprofit, tasked by Congress with protecting historic sites, requested that the construction of the ballroom be halted until a federal review process is completed. Leon suggested that “the President may at any time go to Congress to obtain express authority to construct a ballroom and to do so with private funds.” The Trump administration quickly appealed the decision, which will take effect in 14 days. After the ruling, Trump argued that the construction was essential for national security upgrades, calling the National Trust “a Radical Left Group of Lunatics” on social media.
