Supreme Court clears Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom work
What’s next: The lawsuit returns to lower courts, but crews could finish key parts within months as the legal fight continues.
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to keep building a $400 million White House ballroom complex while a preservation lawsuit moves forward. The 5-4 order blocks a lower-court ruling that had halted aboveground work, though underground military and bunker construction had been allowed to continue. The National Trust for Historic Preservation argues President Donald Trump cannot build the 90,000-square-foot project without congressional approval after the East Wing was demolished. Chief Justice John Roberts joined the court’s three liberal justices in dissent, writing the construction was “likely unlawful.” Court filings say crews are working 20 hours a day, with the framework expected in November and full completion targeted for August 2028.