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Chief Justice Roberts temporarily allows White House ballroom construction to proceed

An administrative stay pauses a lower-court injunction against the $400 million East Wing project while the Supreme Court considers the case.

Updated Aug 24, 2026 · 00:34 UTC4 reports

The short version

  • Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a temporary administrative stay allowing above-ground construction on the White House ballroom project to continue.
  • The order pauses a lower-court injunction that found President Donald Trump lacked congressional authorization to build the 90,000-square-foot facility.
  • The administration contends the complex is essential for national security, while preservationists argue the unilateral demolition and construction violate federal law.
  • The full Supreme Court will next decide whether to grant a longer-term stay or allow the lower-court injunction to take effect.

Key facts

  • Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay freezing lower-court orders that would have halted above-ground construction on the White House ballroom.[ABC News · CNBC · PBS NewsHour · CBS News]
  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop the $400 million, 90,000-square-foot project following the 2025 demolition of the East Wing, arguing the work required congressional approval.[ABC News · CNBC · CBS News]
  • A divided D.C. Circuit panel upheld a district court preliminary injunction blocking above-ground work, ruling that Congress possesses constitutional control over federal property and funding.[PBS NewsHour · CBS News]
  • Work on below-ground national security facilities, including a bunker, was never halted by the lower-court orders.[PBS NewsHour · CBS News]
  • The Trump administration reported in court filings that the project is 65% complete, with crews operating 20 hours a day, seven days a week.[ABC News · PBS NewsHour]

What remains uncertain

  • It is unknown how the full Supreme Court will rule on the administration's emergency application or when a more permanent order will be issued.[CNBC · PBS NewsHour]
  • The final legal outcome on whether the administration can legally utilize private donations transferred through the National Park Service without explicit congressional authorization remains unresolved.[CBS News]

Sources