{"id":557643,"date":"2026-04-01T05:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T05:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/557643\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T05:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T05:51:09","slug":"judge-stops-trumps-east-wing-ballroom-project-indefinitely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/557643\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge stops Trump\u2019s East Wing ballroom project indefinitely"},"content":{"rendered":"

The estimated cost of the Trump<\/a> administration\u2019s proposed White House<\/a> East Wing ballroom project has jumped from $200 million to $400 million since July.<\/p>\n

Trump, just this weekend, also announced<\/a> a new \u201csecret\u201d military complex for the ballroom<\/a>\u2019s basement level.<\/p>\n

However, none of that will come to pass\u2014at least for the time being.<\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon blocked Trump from moving forward on the ballroom in court today, when he granted a preliminary injunction request by the National Trust for Historic Preservation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Leon\u2019s approval of the preliminary injunction request puts the East Wing project on hold for the duration of the lawsuit that was filed in December<\/a> by the National Trust.<\/p>\n

The National Capital Planning Commission was expected to take a final vote on the East Wing project just days from now, on April 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have,\u201d Leon wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Leon affirmed the East Wing project needs Congressional approval, before stating, \u201cThe President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!\u201d<\/p>\n

Acknowledging the abruptness of an immediate halt to construction, the judge suspended enforcement of his court order for 14 days, citing any \u201clogistical issues\u201d it may create.<\/p>\n

National Trust president and CEO Carol Quillen said<\/a> after the outcome was announced, \u201cWe are pleased with Judge Leon\u2019s ruling today to order a halt to any further ballroom construction until the Administration complies with the law and obtains express authorization to go forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a win for the American people on a project that forever impacts one of the most beloved and iconic places in our nation,\u201d Quillen continued.<\/p>\n

After Judge Leon granted the National Trust\u2019s request, Trump expressed his discontents on Truth Social.<\/p>\n

Trump called the National Trust a \u201cRadical Left Group of Lunatics<\/a>\u201d for its legal actions against his plans for both the East Wing and Kennedy Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d Trump said, \u201cthe White House Ballroom, and The Trump Kennedy Center, which are under budget, ahead of schedule, and will be among the most magnificent Buildings of their kind anywhere in the World, gets sued by a group that was cut off by Government years ago, but all of the many DISASTERS in our Country are left alone to die. Doesn\u2019t make much sense, does it? [sic]\u201d<\/p>\n