Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TheProle

(3,996 posts)
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:23 PM 2 hrs ago

Judge blocks above-ground construction of White House ballroom

A federal judge in a revised order on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from doing construction work above-ground on the controversial proposed White House ballroom.

But Judge Richard Leon’s order allows the administration to continue below-ground construction, including work related to national security facilities.

Leon is also allowing above-ground construction “that is strictly necessary to cover, secure, and protect such national security facilities,” as long as that construction does not “lock in the above-ground size and scale of the ballroom,” according to his order in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

The order comes five days after the federal Circuit Court of Appeals in D.C. told Leon to clarify a prior order of his that had enjoined the Trump administration from taking any action to build the planned $400 million, 90,000 square-foot ballroom on the former site of the White House’s East Wing, which was demolished last year to make way for the project.


https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/16/white-house-ballroom-trump-judge.html
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Judge blocks above-ground construction of White House ballroom (Original Post) TheProle 2 hrs ago OP
Give him an inch, he'll take a million miles. 50 Shades Of Blue 2 hrs ago #1
DO WE ELECT POLITICIANS TO "BALLROOM" FOR US?????? bucolic_frolic 2 hrs ago #2
It's tragic Mad_Machine76 2 hrs ago #3
trmp will take this and ignore the details and build whatever the hell he wants spanone 2 hrs ago #4
Yep, I just said something similar. He doesn't believe in laws or judges. Walleye 2 hrs ago #6
Trump will defy this order, guaranteed Walleye 2 hrs ago #5

bucolic_frolic

(55,387 posts)
2. DO WE ELECT POLITICIANS TO "BALLROOM" FOR US??????
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:28 PM
2 hrs ago

This would be good satire if it were in fiction. Instead, it's tragedy.

Mad_Machine76

(24,971 posts)
3. It's tragic
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:30 PM
2 hrs ago

That he just got to go and bulldoze the East Wing before things had been approved, planned, settled, etc.

spanone

(141,799 posts)
4. trmp will take this and ignore the details and build whatever the hell he wants
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:31 PM
2 hrs ago
Leon is also allowing above-ground construction “that is strictly necessary to cover, secure, and protect such national security facilities,” as long as that construction does not “lock in the above-ground size and scale of the ballroom,” according to his order in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

Walleye

(45,064 posts)
6. Yep, I just said something similar. He doesn't believe in laws or judges.
Thu Apr 16, 2026, 12:32 PM
2 hrs ago

His whole existence is in getting away with anything he can and pissing off the people he hates, which is everybody

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Judge blocks above-ground...