Supreme Court allows White House ballroom construction to proceed

The Supreme Court on Monday permitted President Trump to proceed with plans to build a White House ballroom. The 5-4 ruling is likely the final word on the project, which can now proceed with above-ground work after it was halted while the case played out in court. The majority decision noted that the justices did not pass upon the legality of the government's East Wing project, but concluded that the government is likely to prevail in showing that the National Trust for Historic Preservation lacks standing to challenge the project in federal court. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. In his dissenting opinion, Roberts wrote that construction was likely unlawful. The court is allowing construction to proceed not because that construction is legal, but because the Trust likely lacks standing, Roberts wrote. The decision follows an interim Supreme Court order earlier this month pausing a D.C. federal court's halt on all construction while the justices considered Trump's request to keep the project moving. A divided federal appeals court panel had blocked above-ground construction, upholding a U.S. District Court judge's ruling in favor of the Trust.

Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was pleased the Supreme Court had ruled in favor of the complex being built without any further contingency, doubt, or threat, adding: We are living in the Golden Age of America, and this Building will be one of the Greatest ever constructed in Washington, D.C. Trump called the lawsuit baseless and said the complex would make the country proud when it is completed in summer 2028. The National Trust for Historic Preservation CEO Brent Leggs said the group was deeply disappointed with the ruling and respectfully disagrees with the majority's opinion on standing. The trust said it would continue pursuing its case and urged the Supreme Court to quickly consider the government's forthcoming petition.

The ballroom and its underground bunker are estimated to cost at least $600 million, up from the initial $400 million price tag when the administration announced its plans. Trump has said private donors would fund the ballroom, but his administration has asked Congress to use taxpayer dollars for security upgrades for it and other areas of the White House complex. About $352 million in taxpayer dollars was redirected to the project in June from money allocated through the One Big, Beautiful Bill.