US appeals court halts Trump ballroom project paving way for Supreme Court showdown

A federal appeals court has halted construction on President Donald Trump's $400m (£297m) ballroom at the White House, setting the stage for a potential Supreme Court showdown. The court ruled that the project falls under congressional authority and not the executive branch's self-help. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the administration, won a preliminary injunction after the East Wing was torn down last year without congressional approval.

The court emphasized that the White House belongs to the American people and that each president is a temporary tenant, not the owner. The ruling, which upholds a similar order blocking above-ground construction, was published in a 2-1 decision. Construction at the site was previously ordered to stop, but a court delay allowed the Trump administration to continue work while the appeals court reviewed the case.

The ruling does not address the desirability of the ballroom or whether the administration may ultimately construct it, only that they cannot do so without Congress's authorization.