Supreme Court lets White House continue construction on Trump’s $400 million ballroom

On August 23, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the White House, allowing construction to continue on a $400 million ballroom project at the White House. The project, which has involved the demolition of the East Wing, has been the subject of legal challenges from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, who argued that President Donald Trump lacked the authority to undertake the work without congressional approval.

The Supreme Court's decision comes after a temporary order was issued hours before a lower court's ruling would have halted the construction. Chief Justice John Roberts, who issued the temporary order, publicly dissented from the latest decision, joining the court's three liberal-leaning justices in expressing concerns that the construction was "likely unlawful."

The majority opinion did not rule on the legality of the project, but instead determined that the preservation group likely did not have the legal right to challenge it. The lawsuit will now return to lower courts, but key portions of the project could be completed within months, according to documents.

The Trump administration had requested intervention from the Supreme Court after federal courts found that the project required congressional approval. The administration argued that the president has total authority to renovate the White House and other federal buildings, citing national security concerns as justification for completing the project.

Crews have been working around the clock, with the framework expected to be completed by November and much of the facade by April. Full completion is projected for August 2028.