{
  "id": 273486,
  "title": "US court blocks Trump’s US$400 million White House ballroom project",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/us-court-blocks-trumps-us-400-million-white-house-ballroom-project",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T15:46:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3363361/us-court-blocks-trumps-us400-million-white-house-ballroom-project"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A federal appeal court in Washington has blocked the construction of a $400 million ballroom on the grounds of the White House, dealing a significant blow to President Donald Trump's plans. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that presidents are temporary occupants of the White House and require congressional approval to fundamentally alter its structure. This judgment upheld a preliminary injunction filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which challenged the administration's decision to demolish the East Wing and construct the large ballroom without congressional authorization. The court's ruling places the final decision on the ballroom's construction back in the hands of Congress, stating that it is not an executive power to undertake such a massive project unilaterally. Trump, who has previously referred to the project as a \"military centre\" and a security necessity, vowed to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court. He described the ruling as \"horrendous\" and politically motivated, asserting that it left the White House and its visitors exposed to potential attacks. The National Trust's president, Brent Leggs, hailed the decision as a victory for the American people's right to voice their opinions about historic sites like the White House. This legal setback follows Trump's efforts to alter Washington's government buildings and national monuments through various other projects.",
  "summary": "A US federal appeal court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to stop construction on a US$400 million ballroom on the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing, dealing the Republican leader a major setback in a case testing his presidential authority. The Washington-based US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a divided 2-1 order upheld a…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project put on hold — ‘Not ceded unfettered to fit President’s desires…’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/trumps-400-million-white-house-ballroom-project-put-on-hold-not-ceded",
        "published": "2026-08-07T15:50:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "US appeals court halts construction of Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/us-appeals-court-halts-construction-of-trumps-400-million-white-house",
        "published": "2026-08-07T16:06:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Appeals court blocks construction of Trump's White House ballroom",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/appeals-court-blocks-construction-of-trumps-white-house-ballroom",
        "published": "2026-08-07T16:41:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "What's in a foreign-sounding name? Trump's first House primary loss",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/whats-in-a-foreign-sounding-name-trumps-first-house-primary-loss",
        "published": "2026-08-07T17:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "US appeals court orders halt to Trump ballroom construction without congressional approval",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/us-appeals-court-orders-halt-to-trump-ballroom-construction-without",
        "published": "2026-08-07T18:55:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "US appeals court upholds injunction pausing Trump’s White House ballroom",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/us-appeals-court-upholds-injunction-pausing-trumps-white-house",
        "published": "2026-08-07T20:27:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Trump slams court ruling on White House ballroom as 'national disgrace'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/trump-slams-court-ruling-on-white-house-ballroom-as-national-disgrace",
        "published": "2026-08-07T23:31:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}