A federal judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s project to construct a ballroom at the White House, following a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization took legal action against the Trump administration after the East Wing of the White House was demolished last fall. The Trust argued that such significant changes to the White House required Congressional approval. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon stated in his ruling that no existing law grants the President the authority to proceed with such projects without the oversight of Congress.

Judge Leon highlighted that Congress could still authorize the continuation of the ballroom project. He mentioned, “The President may at any time go to Congress to obtain express authority to construct a ballroom and to do so with private funds.” While approving the Trust’s request to halt the project amid ongoing legal proceedings, Leon allowed a two-week period before his order would take effect. He also permitted construction to continue on aspects of the project essential to White House security. The judge, appointed by Republican President George W. Bush, noted that he anticipates an appeal, potentially taking the case to the Supreme Court.

President Trump reacted angrily to the judge’s decision, taking to Truth Social to voice his displeasure. He criticized the National Trust for Historic Preservation as a “Radical Left Group of Lunatics.” Trump expressed frustration that while the White House ballroom and his management of the Kennedy Center faced legal challenges, similar scrutiny hadn’t been applied to the Federal Reserve headquarters renovations or California Governor Gavin Newsom’s controversial rail project.

‘So, the 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,’ Trump posted. ‘Doesn’t make much sense, does it?’

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a Congressionally chartered organization that was funded by the federal government for 30 years after the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act. It now lives off private donations. The Trust sued the Trump administration in December after the East Wing had already been turned to dust. The group encouraged the White House to go through the traditional review processes used for these types of projects.