U.S. District Judge Richard Leon voiced doubt that the White House can lawfully build President Trump’s planned 89,000 sq ft ballroom without congressional approval. He criticized the administration’s broad reading of a maintenance statute meant for small repairs and questioned whether the law covers roughly $400 million in demolition and reconstruction. The National Trust for Historic Preservation seeks a preliminary injunction; Leon expects a ruling in the coming weeks.
Federal Judge Doubts White House Authority To Build Trump’s New Ballroom Without Congress
Construction workers, seen from atop the US Treasury Department building, watch as demolition continues on the East Wing of the White House to make room for a new ballroom, in Washington, Octkober 22, 2025. - Jacquelyn Martin/AP
A federal judge on Thursday expressed serious doubts that the White House has the legal authority to construct President Donald Trump’s proposed, expansive ballroom without explicit approval from Congress.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon told attorneys at a hearing that the administration appears to be trying to "end-run" Congress by invoking a federal maintenance statute. Leon said the law the White House relies on was intended for routine, small-scale upkeep — air conditioning, heating, lighting and similar repairs — not a sweeping construction project.
"It’s not (for) $400 million worth of destruction and construction," Leon said, addressing Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth. Roth pointed to earlier White House projects that proceeded without congressional authorization, including a 1977 swimming pool installed under President Gerald Ford and a tennis pavilion overseen during the first term by First Lady Melania Trump. Leon pushed back, calling those examples a poor comparison to the planned ballroom.
"The ’77 Gerald Ford swimming pool? You compare that to tearing down and building a new East Wing? Come on. Be serious," Leon said.
Lead architect Shalom Baranes estimates the ballroom complex will total about 89,000 square feet — substantially larger than the Executive Mansion itself, which is roughly 55,000 square feet. The project’s estimated scope and reported price tag have fueled the legal challenge.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed the lawsuit late last year and is seeking a preliminary injunction to pause work until the public has an opportunity to comment and Congress has given authorization. Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, did not issue a ruling from the bench but said he expects to release a decision in the coming weeks.
What’s At Stake
The case raises broader questions about executive authority and when significant alterations to federal properties require express congressional approval versus being covered by internal maintenance funds. The judge’s skepticism signals that a court may limit the administration’s ability to proceed without legislative involvement.
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