Supreme Court 5-4 ruling allows Trump to continue White House ballroom construction
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision on August 22, 2026, allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with building a 90,000-square-foot ballroom at the White House, blocking a lower court injunction. The majority found the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacked standing to sue. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, calling the project likely unlawful. Construction, which began with the East Wing demolition in 2025, has escalated from $200 million to at least $600 million, with taxpayers covering half.