Appeals Panel Blocks Ballroom Project

Trump (R) Cannot continue Building the Ballroom, without Approval from Congress, a Federal Appeals Court Panel Ruled on 8/7/2026. The Ruling, by Three Judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, dealt a Blow to Trump’s efforts to press ahead with the Project, and drew an Angry Rebuke from Trump, who has Vowed to Appeal to the Supreme Court. It Upheld, a Lower Court’s Findings, that No Law or Authority gives Trump the Power to Raze and Replace Sections of the White House, without Congressional Authorization.

The Decision does not mean Construction will Halt immediately. The Judges paused their Ruling for 14 days, to give the Administration a chance to Appeal. The Lower Court Judge had similarly Suspended His Ruling to allow time for an appeal, and Trump has continued Building.

The Ruling on 8/7/2026 was Ssplit, with Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama (D) Appointee, and Bradley Garcia, a Biden (D) Appointee, forming a 2-to-1 Majority. Judge Neomi Rao, a Trump Appointee, Dissented “Each president is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House, and its Executive Residence,” Judge Millett and Judge Garcia wrote. They said there was No Historical Precedent for a Chief Executive tearing down substantial Portions of the White House “unilaterally and using privately collected funds.” The Construction of a “massive ballroom,” they said, “is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for executive self-help.”

Trump’s pledge to Appeal the Ruling to the Supreme Court, sets the Stage for another Potential Showdown over Executive Power, One that comes after a Term where His Administration made a Number of Novel Assertions of Presidential Authority and the Ccourt gave it some, but Not All.

The Dispute over the Ballroom Promises to make the Abstract Question of Presidential Power, as Tangible as Bricks and Mortar Judge Richard J. Leon, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, hadRruled in 4/2026, that the Ballroom Project far Exceeded the Scale of the kind of Minor Changes Presidents have traditionally made to the White House Grounds, entering Territory that required Collaboration with Congress.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker