Cranes loom over the construction zone of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ballroom at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 25, 2026. (REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)
WASHINGTON, February 26 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday declined to block President Donald Trump from proceeding with construction of a $400 million White House ballroom to replace the demolished East Wing, finding that preservationists challenging failed to meet the high bar for a preliminary injunction that would halt the project for now.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon's ruling came in a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation aiming to stop construction until the White House complies with federal law and rules including congressional authorization. The National Trust had sought a preliminary injunction to freeze the work on the ballroom, planned to be 90,000 square feet (8,360 square meters), while the private nonprofit group's lawsuit proceeds.
The Trump administration has argued that the project is consistent with established presidential renovation practices and serves the public interest.
The National Trust sued Trump and several federal agencies in December, arguing that the project moved ahead unlawfully without required approvals, environmental review or authorization by Congress.
Trump's demolition of the East Wing building, a part of the White House complex originally built in 1902 during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency and greatly expanded in 1942 during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, was carried out in October. Construction equipment tore down the structure, which had housed the first lady's offices, a theater and a visitor's entrance that welcomed foreign dignitaries.
The ballroom project is one of several major changes Trump has made to the White House since returning to office in January 2025. Trump has added gold accents throughout the Oval Office and converted the Rose Garden lawn into a paved patio resembling one at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
The National Trust argued that federal law bars construction on federal parkland in Washington without the express authority of Congress. It also argued the National Park Service violated federal law by issuing an environmental assessment instead of a full impact statement, and by releasing it after demolition had begun.
"No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever - not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else," the lawsuit said.
In December, Leon declined to issue a temporary restraining order in the case sought by the National Trust.
The administration has defended the legality of the project, arguing it follows in a long line of presidential renovations. It said in a court filing that the ballroom is needed for state functions, its design is still evolving and above-ground construction is not planned until April, making an injunction unnecessary.
Trump's swift demolition of the East Wing drew scorn from preservationists and other critics, who saw the project as an extension of the Republican president's claims of expansive presidential powers. Trump has defended the project, asserting in a post on his Truth Social platform that his use of private donations for the project means "ZERO taxpayer funding." Trump called the planned ballroom a "desperately needed space."
No firm completion date has been given but the White House said it will be "long before the end" of Trump's term.
(Reporting by Mike Scarcella; Editng by Will Dunham and David Bario)
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