A federal judge in Washington is openly questioning whether the Trump administration can legally move ahead with plans for a $400 million White House ballroom without Congress signing off.
During a Thursday hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon—an appointee of former President George W. Bush—zeroed in on the administration’s claim that President Donald Trump has the authority to replace the historic East Wing with a sprawling new ballroom on federal land. The hearing comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Preservation Group Sues Over East Wing Demolition
The National Trust sued Trump and multiple federal agencies in December, arguing the project advanced without required congressional authorization, without adequate environmental review, and without meaningful public oversight. The East Wing, the group says, was more than 120 years old and has already been demolished as part of the project.
On the bench, Leon appeared skeptical that the administration’s arguments match the scale of what’s happening. He dismissed comparisons to smaller renovations by past administrations—such as the installation of a swimming pool during President Gerald Ford’s time in office. “Come on, be serious,” Leon said.
Congress’s Role at the Center of the Fight
The core dispute is whether federal law permits major construction on federal parkland in Washington absent explicit approval from Congress. The National Trust argues that such approval is required—and that the National Park Service fell short under environmental law by issuing only a limited environmental assessment instead of a full environmental impact statement.
The group also contends the assessment came out only after demolition had already started, undercutting the purpose of public review. Leon declined to issue an emergency restraining order last month, but he allowed the case to move forward.
Administration Says Project Serves the Public
The White House and the Justice Department are urging the court to reject a preliminary injunction that would pause the project while the lawsuit proceeds. Justice Department attorney Jacob Roth told the court the ballroom is intended for official state functions, that the design remains in flux, and that above-ground construction is not expected to begin until April.
Roth argued the project is in the public interest and fits within historical precedent, pointing to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s construction of the East Wing itself.
In December, Trump selected Shalom Baranes to replace James McCrery II as the chief architect of the planned 90,000-square-foot, gilded ballroom, the White House has now confirmed.
“Shalom is an accomplished architect whose work has shaped the architectural identity of our nation’s capital for decades and his experience will be a great asset to the completion of this project,” White House spokesperson David Ingle said.
The ballroom is being funded through private donations from individuals, corporations, and tech companies, including Google and Amazon. Trump has highlighted that structure, emphasizing that taxpayers will not foot the bill.
Judge Weighs Whether to Halt Construction
The National Capital Planning Commission held a public hearing earlier this month—the first public forum on the ballroom proposal. The White House has also submitted applications to both the planning commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.
Leon said he expects to rule in the coming weeks on whether to issue a preliminary injunction, a decision that could temporarily freeze the project as the lawsuit continues.
