The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to stop construction of a $300 million, 90,000-sq-ft ballroom addition to the White House, arguing demolition of the East Wing occurred without required federal reviews or congressional oversight. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in D.C., cites violations of the National Capital Planning Act, NEPA and the Constitution’s Property Clause and seeks a temporary restraining order. Polls show majority public opposition, and the project is funded by wealthy donors and major contractors including Meta and Microsoft.
Preservation Group Sues to Halt Trump’s $300M White House Ballroom, Seeking Emergency Court Order
Work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House on 9 December in Washington DC, where the East Wing once stood.Photograph: Pablo Martínez Monsiváis/AP
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has filed a federal lawsuit asking a court to halt construction on former President Donald Trump’s planned $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the White House complex. The complaint, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that demolition of part of the historic East Wing proceeded without required federal reviews or congressional oversight.
What The Lawsuit Alleges
The suit names Trump and several administration officials and contends the project violates the National Capital Planning Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Constitution’s Property Clause, which reserves oversight of federal property to Congress. The National Trust is asking the court for a temporary restraining order to freeze all construction and demolition activity until the proper federal review processes are completed.
“No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever—not President Trump, not President Joe Biden, and not anyone else. And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.”
Preservation Concerns And Project Timeline
The National Trust, chartered by Congress in 1949 to encourage public participation in preserving nationally significant sites, says demolition of the East Wing was rushed last October despite objections from preservationists who urged the White House to pause and submit plans to federal review panels. Social media photos and videos showing heavy machinery and crews at the site are cited by the Trust as evidence that substantial work is already underway.
Funding, Public Opinion And Previous Challenges
The $300 million project is financed largely by wealthy donors and corporate backers, including companies with federal contracts such as Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Lockheed Martin and Palantir Technologies. The administration has released only a partial list of contributors and has allowed some to remain anonymous.
Polling indicates broad public opposition: a Washington Post–ABC News survey found 56% of Americans oppose tearing down the East Wing for the ballroom, while a Yahoo News–YouGov poll reported 61% disapproval overall (46% strongly disapprove vs. 18% strongly approve).
This lawsuit is the most significant legal challenge so far. An earlier emergency motion filed in October by a Virginia couple, Charles and Judith Voorhees, seeking to stop the demolition was dismissed.
Administration Response
Administration officials have tried to distinguish between construction on White House grounds—which they acknowledge generally requires federal review—and demolition or site preparation, which they argue was not subject to the same procedures. The National Trust rejects that distinction, saying the scope of work clearly warrants review.
At an October donors’ dinner, Trump was quoted as saying, “They said, ‘Sir, this is the White House. You’re the president of the United States, you can do anything you want,’” suggesting he believed typical building restrictions would not apply.
Steven Cheung, assistant to the president and White House director of communications, dismissed the National Trust’s criticism on X, characterizing its leaders as “loser Democrats and liberal donors.”
What Happens Next
The National Trust is asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop further demolition and construction while agencies complete required reviews and the public has an opportunity to comment. The case now proceeds in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where both legal arguments and public scrutiny are likely to continue.
