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Judge Richard Leon blocks above ground work on Trumps $400 million White House ballroom, allows limited underground security construction.
The construction of U.S.President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom continues in Washington DC (Reuters)
A federal judge in a revised order on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from above-ground construction work on the proposed White House ballroom, prompting a sharp reaction from President Donald Trump, who said he “won’t accept” the decision.
District Judge Richard Leon extended an earlier order blocking the $400 million project, citing the need for congressional approval. His revised order, however, allowed the administration to continue below-ground construction, including work related to national security facilities, including bunkers, security infrastructure, and medical units.
The judge said that such work could proceed as long as it does not determine the final size or structure of the ballroom above ground.
In the order, Leon extended his ban on any above-ground construction of the proposed ballroom on the former site of the East Wing, which previously housed the offices of the First Lady.
“Below-ground construction may proceed, including the construction of any ‘top-secret excavations, bunkers, bomb shelters, protective partitioning, military installations, and hospital and medical facilities,'” the judge said.
Work can continue on the underground bunker provided it does “not lock in the above-ground size and scale of the ballroom,” he said.
“National security is not a blank check to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity,” he said.
Trump Reacts
Trump reacted furiously to the ruling, taking to his Truth Social platform to brand District Judge Richard Leon “highly political” and “out of control.”
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the US President raged about Leon’s order.
“A Trump Hating, Washington, D.C. District Court Judge, a man who has gone out of his way to undermine National Security, and to make sure that this Great Gift to America gets delayed, or doesn’t get built, is attempting to prevent future Presidents and World Leaders from having a safe and secure large scale Meeting Place, or Ballroom, one with Bomb Shelters,” Trump wrote.
“This is a mockery to our Court System!” Trump said in another post. “The Ballroom is deeply important to our National Security, and no Judge can be allowed to stop this Historic and Militarily Imperative Project.”
The ballroom is part of Trump’s broader push to reshape Washington’s monumental core, which also includes plans for a 250-foot (76-meter) arch and a multi-year renovation of the Kennedy Center performing arts complex. He has also ripped out and replaced the White House Rose Garden and added a wide array of gilding to the Oval Office.
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
April 17, 2026, 04:33 IST
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