Appeals court blocks Trump’s White House ballroom construction

A federal appeals court panel blocked President Trump’s White House ballroom in a 2-1 vote on Friday, saying that work must stop except for below-ground construction, including installations Trump says are needed for security. 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit panel ruled that Congress retains control over funding for development at the White House and had not authorized Trump’s project. 

The court paused its order for two weeks to allow the Trump administration to seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court.

“We are aware of no instance in American history in which a President unilaterally and using privately collected funds demolished substantial portions of the White House that Congress authorized to be built and American taxpayers paid for. Until now,” the majority wrote. 

The panel split along ideological lines. The majority comprised U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett, an appointee of former President Obama, and U.S. Circuit Judge Brad Garcia, an appointee........

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