Richard Leon suspends work proposed by the Republican and says the project depends on Congressional approval
A United States federal judge ruled this Tuesday (March 31, 2026) that the former president (Republican Party) cannot move forward with the construction of a ballroom at the White House without congressional approval. With the decision, the project valued at US$400 million is suspended.
District Judge Richard Leon answered a do organization dedicated to preserving historic heritage in the USA. The organization claims that Trump exceeded his authority by authorizing the demolition of the East Wing, a historic structure of the presidential complex, to make way for the new construction.
“Where does this leave us? Unfortunately for the defendants, unless Congress approves this project through legal authorization, construction will have to stop!“, Leon wrote. He ordered the decision to be suspended for 14 days to allow the government’s appeal, which has already been presented.
Em Trump criticized the group that authored the action and stated that the project is “under budget, ahead of schedule, being built at no cost to the taxpayer and will be the best building of its type in the world“. The president also called the National Trust of “a group of far left lunatics”.
Leon also stated that no federal law authorizes intervention. “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!“, he wrote.
