Construction of US president Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom will continue for now after a federal judge declined to temporarily halt the project, despite a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation challenging its legality.
On Tuesday, 16 December, US District Judge Richard Leon rejected the preservation group’s request for an immediate stop to construction after hearing oral arguments. The National Trust filed suit on 12 December against the National Park Service (NPS), arguing that the government failed to follow legally required review processes before approving the demolition of the White House’s historic East Wing to make way for the privately funded, $400m ballroom.
The lawsuit contends that the project moved forward without congressional approval and without opportunities for public comment, both of which are typically required for significant changes to federally protected historic properties. The National Trust, which was created by Congress in 1949 to safeguard historically significant sites, said the project undermines established preservation laws and oversight mechanisms.
“We are fully committed to upholding the interests of the American people and advocating for compliance with the law,” said Carol Quillen, president of the National Trust, in a statement following the hearing, “including review by the National Capital Planning Commission and an opportunity for the public to provide comment and shape the project.”
While Judge Leon declined to issue an immediate halt, he signaled that the case remains far from resolved. Leon said he would hear further arguments in January before deciding whether to grant a preliminary injunction that could pause construction at a later stage. He also emphasized that the Trump administration must meet its stated commitment to submit finalized project plans to federal review panels by the end of December.
In explaining his decision, Leon distinguished between the current phase of construction and the project’s eventual appearance above ground. He suggested that the below-ground work now underway posed fewer concerns than the ballroom’s final architectural impact once it rises above the White House grounds.
The government has argued that the ballroom project implicates national security considerations, a claim that may have influenced the judge’s ruling. Although the documents submitted to the court have not been made public, it is widely known that a presidential bunker has existed beneath the former East Wing since the 1940s.
As the legal challenge proceeds, the political response has also intensified. On the same day as the court hearing, Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin introduced legislation aimed at strengthening oversight of future White House renovations. The bill seeks to “protect the historic character of the White House, requiring a public review process for renovations to the building,” and was drafted with assistance from the American Institute of Architects. If enacted, it would extend the National Historic Preservation Act’s jurisdiction to the White House and its grounds, which are currently exempt.
Despite the ongoing dispute, construction timelines remain in place. The National Park Service estimates the 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be completed in the summer of 2028, several months before Trump leaves office. Superstructure construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, though architectural plans have yet to be finalized.
The project has already undergone design changes. Trump dismissed the original design firm, McCrery Architects, and replaced it with Shalom Baranes Associates, further fueling criticism from preservation advocates who argue that the scope and scale of the ballroom could permanently alter the White House’s historic character.
For now, the ruling allows construction to continue, but the outcome of the January hearing could determine whether the project faces additional legal or regulatory hurdles in the months ahead.
Originally reported by The Art News Paper.
