US Court Halts Trump's White House Ballroom Project, Says Congress Approval Needed

A US appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump cannot proceed with construction of his proposed White House ballroom without approval from Congress, ordering work on the project to stop.

Appeals court sides with preservationists

The US Court of Appeals ruled in favour of historic preservationists who had sued to halt construction of the ballroom. The court, however, stayed its own ruling for two weeks, giving the Trump administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

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Construction requires Congress approval

The court held that the decision on whether such a ballroom should be built rests with Congress.

"Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help," the court wrote.

It clarified that its decision did not address the merits of the ballroom project itself or permanently prevent its construction.

"This holding has nothing at all to do with whether the proposed ballroom is desirable, or not, as a matter of policy. This ruling does not even necessarily mean that the Defendants may not ultimately construct the ballroom.

Administration gets two weeks to appeal

The court said the project could not proceed during the district court litigation unless Congress authorised it.

"What it does mean," the court continued, "is that the Defendants may not do so during the district court's expeditious litigation without securing Congress's authorization, as the Constitution and laws require."

The two-week stay gives the administration an opportunity to approach the US Supreme Court against the ruling.