Judge clarifies decision on Trump’s ballroom

A federal judge ruled the Trump administration may continue below-ground security work at the White House ballroom site but must halt above-ground construction.

By

National News

April 16, 2026 - 3:03 PM

President Donald Trump holds an artist rendering of what will be a new East Wing to the White House, which includes a massive ballroom. Photo by AP Photo/Alex Brandon

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge who halted construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom clarified on Thursday that the administration can proceed with below-ground construction of a bunker and other “national security facilities” at the site.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington issued his latest ruling in a lawsuit over the ballroom project several days after an appeals court instructed him to reconsider the possible national security implications of stopping construction.

Government lawyers had argued that the project…

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