Judge: Legal challenge to Trump’s White House ballroom plan procedurally deficient

A federal judge has had to rule that, for now, President Donald Trump’s plans for a $400 million White House ballroom to replace the demolished East Wing must be allowed to move forward.

In the decision by Judge Richard Leon, who previously has ruled against the president’s plans several times, he conceded that the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the project failed to bring the legally required arguments.

“Unfortunately, because both sides initially focused on the president’s constitutional authority to destruct and construct the East Wing of the White House, plaintiff didn’t bring the necessary cause of action to test the statutory authority the president claims is the basis to do this construction project without the blessing of Congress and with private funds,” the judge admitted.

The result was he was unable to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the project, and it will move forward.

A report from Reuters explained Leon’s decision came in a case brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Trump announces that the judge presiding over the case on his ballroom has stopped the effort to halt its construction.

“The Ballroom construction…is ahead of schedule, and under budget. It will stand long into the future as a symbol to the Greatness of America!” pic.twitter.com/I4OA5M3wFq

— johnny maga (@johnnymaga) February 26, 2026

VICTORY for @POTUS’s big, beautiful ballroom!@thejusticedept attorneys just defeated a bad-faith left-wing legal attack to try and shut down the President’s East Wing Modernization and State Ballroom Project.

Not only is this great news for our country and visitors to the…

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) February 26, 2026

Trump has, in fact, planned a number of changes at the White House, drawing opposition from organizations that had ignored changes made by other presidents at the White House.

The ballroom is set to be 90,000 square feet and provide a facility for state dinners and other large functions which before now sometimes have been held outdoors.

The Washington Examiner said the plaintiffs brought their case under the Administrative Procedure Act, but that law only applies to agencies, not the White House.

Leon took sides, suggesting the plaintiffs “amend” their complaint and promised he would “expeditiously” consider it.

Department of Justice lawyers have explained Trump’s plan to complete the project with donated funds is perfectly legal.

“This is not a circumvention of the appropriations process—it is a funding mechanism that Congress knowingly authorized and has long been aware is available to support projects on White House grounds,” they told the court.

The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to review the plan soon.

Joe Biden has complained that President Trump is “taking a wrecking ball” to the White House complex.