Appeals Court Allows White House to Resume Construction of Secure Ballroom and Counter-Drone Facility

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled in late March 2026 that President Trump lacked legal authority to build the 90,000-square-foot ballroom absent express authorization from Congress. Leon, a President George W. Bush appointee, issued an injunction that halted above-ground construction of the planned ballroom.

An appeals court quickly put the injunction on hold, and construction of the East Wing project has continued. The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its initial lawsuit in December against President Trump and several federal agencies, filed an amended lawsuit last month, and said it will not drop its lawsuit.

President Donald Trump posted two detailed renderings of drones on a massive rooftop on Truth Social on May 31 2026. He described the proposed facility as perhaps the most sophisticated anywhere in the world and said the capital can no longer be defended with rifles and pistols alone because of highly sophisticated and powerful modern day weaponry.

Trump stated that Judge Richard Leon should stop playing games with America’s security and that if anything happens the judge will be held responsible for the death and destruction caused to the country.

In a court filing, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote that in light of recent attacks against President Trump’s life, including two attempts in less than a month, the injunction must be vacated. A gunman opened fire at a White House checkpoint earlier in May 2026, was shot by officers, and later died at a hospital.

In a pre-taped interview with Lara Trump that aired on Fox News on May 30 2026, President Trump said he plans to hold the next presidential inauguration in the new ballroom.

He said when the ballroom is finished he will only have the use of it for six months. Trump said in the Capitol he had 902 people and it was still beautiful but it was not safe like this. Lara Trump said this is far more than a ballroom and that it goes down six floors.

Trump said this will be the kitchen floor and then you have the drone ports and you have the sniper ports and you have everything above. Trump said it will be the greatest facility of its kind ever built by far and there will never be anything like it. He said the project is ahead of schedule and right on budget.

The budget for the project has grown along with its size in recent months. Trump stated the military is involved and the Secret Service is involved and it is a very secure, most secure facility ever built. The project is described as a $400 million ballroom.

Larry Pfeiffer, a former senior CIA official who also served as senior director of the White House Situation Room, asked why Trump is advertising White House defensive capabilities. Javed Ali, a counterterrorism official and member of the National Security Council under the first Trump administration, said it is a good idea to create some kind of counter-drone capability.

Javed Ali said questions remain about the operational aspects of this counter drone system including how long it would take to create it with rigorous testing and evaluation, who would operate it, and the rules of engagement and protocols under which it could be used.

The ballroom project began as a plan to host state dinners, receptions and other large events without relying on tents or outside venues. An appeals court let Trump resume White House ballroom construction while seeking lower court clarity.