21:28 - 7.08.2026

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August 7, Fineko/abc.az. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ordered a halt to the Trump administration's planned $400 million ballroom project at the site of the White House's East Wing. The ruling represents a major legal setback for the administration.

In a 2-1 decision, the appellate court upheld a preliminary injunction won by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The trust filed the lawsuit last year after the administration demolished the East Wing and commenced construction on the 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-meter) facility without seeking authorization from Congress.

The court majority ruled that decisions regarding such massive additions belong to Congress rather than executive discretion. The court stayed its order for 14 days to allow the administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court.