Construction of U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project will be allowed to continue after an appeals court granted an administrative stay, temporarily blocking a lower court order that had halted parts of the work.
The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia means both underground and above-ground construction can proceed pending a further hearing on 5 June..
The decision follows a ruling by District Judge Richard Leon, who had ordered a partial halt to construction, arguing that the project may have required congressional approval.
Leon also questioned the administration’s argument that the development was justified on national security grounds, warning it could be used to bypass legal requirements..
“National security is not a blank cheque to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity,” he wrote.
The project has been challenged by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which argues that construction began without proper review by the National Capital Planning Commission and without congressional authorisation.
The Justice Department appealed the ruling, warning that a halt could “imperil the president and national security” and leave a large excavation site beside the Executive Residence.
The White House has defended the project, arguing it is essential for hosting large diplomatic and security-related events.
Trump said the ballroom was “needed now” and described it as part of a broader secure complex.
“It’s all tied together as one big, expensive, and very complex unit,” he said on Truth Social, adding that it would include bomb shelters and medical facilities.
He also criticised the court decision, saying judges should not be able to block the project.
The East Wing of the White House, originally built in 1902, was demolished in October to make way for the new ballroom, which is planned to accommodate up to 1,350 guests.
The White House has said the project will cost around $400 million and is being fully funded by private donors.
FormeFormer Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump...
A major international conference on “The Role of Youth in Urban Development during Decolonisation Processes” has opened in Baku,...
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green ...
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the...
Passenger rail services between Baku and Tbilisi are expected to resume in 2026, after being suspended in 2020 ...
FormeFormer Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump administration official. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist leadership.
A major international conference on “The Role of Youth in Urban Development during Decolonisation Processes” has opened in Baku, bringing together young leaders and experts from around the world as part of the 13th session of the UN World Urban Forum.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
FormeFormer Cuban President Raúl Castro has been indicted in the United States, according to a senior Trump administration official. The move marks a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Cuba’s communist leadership.
The red carpet had barely been rolled up after Donald Trump’s departure before Beijing was laying it out again. Vladimir Putin arrived in the Chinese capital on Wednesday for talks with Xi Jinping, just days after Trump’s own high-profile visit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Türkiye-EU relations and rising Middle East tensions during a phone call on Tuesday.
The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to China, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump left Beijing, has highlighted intensifying great-power signalling amid a rapidly fragmenting global order.
The European Union has moved closer to implementing tariff cuts under last year’s U.S. trade agreement after negotiators agreed on a provisional legislative text.
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