President Donald Trump scored a temporary legal win after a federal appeals court allowed construction of a new White House ballroom to continue while a broader dispute plays out.
The decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit permits work on the project to move forward for at least another week as judges review the case.
The ruling comes after a lower court had ordered most construction to stop, arguing the project likely required congressional approval.
At the center of the dispute is whether Trump has the authority to move forward with the massive addition without direct approval from Congress.
The appeals court did not settle that question.
Instead, it sent the case back to the lower court for further review, saying more analysis is needed.
“It remains unclear” how much of the construction is necessary for safety and security, the judges wrote in their order.
That uncertainty led the court to allow work to continue temporarily while the issue is examined in more detail.
The project itself is significant in scale.
Plans call for an approximately 89,000-square-foot ballroom, which would be larger than the main White House residence.
Construction began after the demolition of the East Wing last year, triggering immediate backlash from preservation groups.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the project.
The group argues that such a major structural change requires congressional approval and should not proceed without oversight.
A federal district judge initially agreed.
In a sharply worded ruling, the judge said Trump was moving forward unlawfully and ordered construction to halt, with limited exceptions for safety-related work.
“The President… is not the owner,” the judge wrote, emphasizing limits on executive authority.
Trump and his legal team quickly pushed back.
They argued the project includes critical national security upgrades that cannot be delayed.
According to court filings, the construction involves features such as missile-resistant materials, reinforced structures, and advanced security systems.
Officials say those upgrades are necessary to protect the president and others working in the White House.
The appeals court did not fully endorse that argument but said it requires closer examination, per CNN.
For now, that gives the administration a narrow window to keep construction moving.
The ruling was not unanimous.
Two judges supported sending the case back for further review, while a third dissented.
The divide reflects broader disagreement over the legal and constitutional questions involved.
The case has become a flashpoint in an ongoing battle over presidential authority.
Critics argue the project bypasses proper oversight and risks altering a historic landmark without approval.
Supporters say the president has the responsibility to modernize and secure the White House.
The ballroom has been a longtime goal for Trump, who has pushed for a permanent event space to replace temporary structures used for major functions.
