WASHINGTON, DC: A US federal appeals court has ordered the administration of President Donald Trump to halt construction of a new $400 million ballroom at the White House.

According to US media reports, the appeals court in Washington ruled that major changes to the White House’s infrastructure cannot be carried out without congressional approval. In a 2-1 decision, the court said that every US president is only a temporary occupant of the White House, not its owner, and that major construction projects must therefore comply with the required legal procedures.

The case was brought following a petition by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The organization argued that the Trump administration had begun demolishing the East Wing and moving ahead with plans for a roughly 90,000-square-foot ballroom without obtaining approval from Congress.

The court has stayed enforcement of its ruling for 14 days, giving the Trump administration an opportunity to seek intervention from the US Supreme Court if it chooses to do so. During this period, however, above-ground construction cannot proceed without congressional approval.

The Trump administration has argued that the project is necessary to accommodate major official events and improve security arrangements at the White House. Officials say existing facilities do not provide sufficient space for large gatherings and that the proposed ballroom would help address both logistical and security requirements.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, however, maintains that such a major alteration to the historic White House complex cannot be decided solely by the administration. The organization has raised concerns about preserving the historic character of the building and ensuring that the appropriate legal process is followed.

The court’s ruling has temporarily halted the project and represents a significant setback for the Trump administration’s plans for the new ballroom.

The next step could involve the administration seeking relief from the US Supreme Court or pursuing congressional approval for the project. Until then, construction of the proposed ballroom remains blocked under the appeals court’s order.