A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to pause construction on its White House ballroom absent “express authorization from Congress” on Tuesday, throwing the $400 million project’s future into question.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote that “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have,” granting the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s request for a preliminary injunction blocking further work on the project.
“The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” Leon wrote in his opinion.
The Trump administration swiftly appealed the ruling, which will go into effect in 14 days.
