• A federal appeals court has ordered a halt to the construction of Trump's $400 million ballroom.
• The ruling emphasized that the project requires Congressional approval.
• The decision follows a lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
• The Trump administration may appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
• Trump has defended the need for the ballroom citing national security concerns.

A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to stop construction on a $400 million ballroom on the site of the White House's demolished East Wing. This ruling represents a significant setback for Trump at a time when his presidential authority is being scrutinized, as it upheld a preliminary injunction from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which sued the administration after it began the project without Congressional approval, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

The Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a 2-1 decision affirming that Congress has "full constitutional control over federal property and the funding of its maintenance and development," thereby concluding that President Trump lacks the unilateral authority to pursue this project, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.

The appeals court placed its ruling on hold for 14 days to allow the Trump administration a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court. Trump’s legal team expressed intent to challenge the ruling. Earlier, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon also blocked above-ground construction, underscoring the absence of any federal statute granting the President the authority needed to authorize such efforts independently, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

In the context of ongoing discussions about the ballroom project, there have been statements from the Trump administration indicating that the new ballroom is deemed necessary for national security purposes, particularly following an assassination attempt at a prior White House event. Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth stated that the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s opposition should not outweigh national security considerations, as indicated in multiple sources including Reuters and CBS News.

Trump defended the ballooning cost of the project, attributing the increase to its expanded size and quality. He remarked that it would be "magnificent, safe and secure." Meanwhile, opponents argue that decisions affecting the White House’s infrastructure must involve Congressional oversight, emphasizing the need for public engagement in major government projects, referenced by sources like South China Morning Post and BBC.