How Long the White House Ballroom Construction Delay Will Last Is Uncertain

This week, judge rules, again, to halt construction except in underground areas needed for security.

Construction cranes are seen, from the Washington Monument, on the site of the former East Wing of the White House on April 17, 2026 in Washington, D.C. A federal judge released a revised order on Thursday blocking the Trump administration from above-ground construction work on the proposed White House ballroom. The ruling makes an allowance for above-ground construction in order to cover and protect national security facilities. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

A federal judge this week—again—ordered construction on the White House East Wing, which includes a massive ballroom, to stop despite arguments from the Trump administration that leaving the construction site “open” and “exposed” creates national security concerns for the residence, president and his family.

In Thursday’s order, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon clarified the March 31 preliminary injunction that initially directed a halt to construction of the ballroom project. He said he excluded from the scope …