Court Blocks Trump’s White House Ballroom Project Without Congress Approval

Email:online@newsofbahrain.com

Washington: A US appeals court has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump's plan to build a large ballroom and military complex at the White House, ruling that the project cannot proceed without approval from Congress.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled 2-1 that the president does not have unilateral authority to construct the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing.

The court said decisions over such a major construction project should be made by Congress rather than through executive action. However, the ruling has been temporarily stayed for two weeks, giving the Trump administration time to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

Trump criticised the decision, calling it a national security threat and arguing that presidents have the right to renovate and protect the White House grounds. He said his administration would immediately challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court.

The court decision is another setback for Trump's plans for major construction projects around Washington. A separate assessment by the National Park Service also raised concerns that a proposed 250-foot triumphal arch could affect the historic character of sites near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.