Government Attorney Argues Court Cannot Halt White House Ballroom Construction

Lawyers for the federal government argued on June 5, 2026, that a court should not stop the construction of a White House ballroom, as the project is already in progress and addresses sensitive security concerns. Attorney Yaakov Roth stated during a hearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that only Congress has the authority to halt the $400 million project. The court is reviewing an order from U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, which directed the Trump administration to stop aboveground work on the ballroom while allowing belowground construction to continue. The hearing focused on legal standing to challenge government actions and the implications of national security. Roth noted that the government could proceed with significant changes without legal opposition once actions have been taken. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed a lawsuit in December to contest the project, arguing that Congress should have a say in the construction. Government lawyers emphasized that the project includes essential security features to protect the President and the White House.