Judge Halts Trump's White House Ballroom Plan

0:00It's March 31st. You're listening to U.S. News today, AI-powered national coverage. A federal judge just slammed the brakes on President Trump's plan to build a massive ballroom in the White House, issuing a preliminary injunction that halts most construction. The project aims to replace part of the East Wing with about 90,000 square feet of new space, all funded by private donors. Some hit back hard on True Social Tuesday, calling the suing group Radical left lunatics whose federal funding got cut years ago. He boasted the bill is under budget ahead of schedule and won't cost taxpayers a dime, plus it'll be the best ballroom anywhere. The national trust for historic preservation kicked off the lawsuit back in December 2025, arguing Trump lacks the legal power for such. A big change without Congress signing off. Trump wonders why they're laser focused on his projects while ignoring national disasters elsewhere. Judge Richard Leon ruled, no law gives the president that authority solo, but he

1:04paused the injunction for 14 days and carved out exceptions for. Safety and security work, footings and underground prep are already moving forward. This sets the stage for more court fights or a congressional push, while Trump keeps rolling on other fixes like cleaning the reflecting pool with. Here's Secretary Doug Burgham, eyes on how it shakes out for presidential projects.