Trump Requests Supreme Court Approval for White House Ballroom Construction

On August 14, 2026, President Donald Trump filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court to continue construction of a ballroom adjacent to the White House. This request follows an August 7 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which upheld a federal judge's decision to block aboveground work while litigation is ongoing. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that the injunction would improperly empower a single district judge to determine what construction is necessary for the safety of the President and others at the White House. Currently, construction is ongoing as the appeals court decision has not yet taken effect. The Supreme Court has until August 21 to respond to the request. The case also raises questions about the legal standing of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which filed the lawsuit based on aesthetic objections to the construction. Sauer noted that the project is 65% complete, funded by $400 million in private donations, and employs a crew working extensive hours. He also dismissed claims of injury from a member of the trust, stating that subjective displeasure does not constitute a concrete injury.