US appeals court blocks Trump's $400m ballroom project

In a significant ruling, a US federal appeals court has halted construction on a $400 million ballroom project on the White House grounds, dealing a major blow to then-President Donald Trump's plans. The court ruled that no single president possesses the authority to fundamentally alter the White House without congressional approval, emphasizing that the property belongs to the nation, not any individual leader.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which fought the project, won a preliminary injunction after the administration demolished the East Wing and began building the ballroom without obtaining congressional authorization. The appeals court's majority opinion stated that such projects should be decided by Congress, not the executive branch.

The ruling was temporarily suspended for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court. President Trump, who had argued that the ballroom was necessary for security reasons, vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, calling it "horrendous" and politically motivated. He claimed the structure would include bomb shelters, medical facilities, and advanced security measures, labeling it a "military center."

The National Trust's president praised the decision as a victory for the American people's right to voice opinions about historic sites, including the White House.