White House Security and Infrastructure

A three-judge D.C. Circuit panel ruled 2-1 late this week to pause a district court injunction and allow work on the White House East Wing ballroom to continue through April 17 while the Trump administration seeks Supreme Court review. The stay blocks Judge Richard Leon's prior order that construction stop by April 14 "until Congress authorizes its completion," and specifically directs Leon to revisit how his injunction's safety-and-security exception addresses the government's contention that the ballroom and related measures are needed to protect the president and others at the White House. The project — demolition of the East Wing began in October 2025 — is planned to create a roughly 1,000-seat ballroom and has been reported to cost between about $300 million and nearly $400 million; the administration says the work is privately funded and that pausing construction would imperil officials' safety, including protections against drones, missiles and biological threats.