Supreme Court Allows White House Ballroom Construction to Move Ahead

The court voted 5-4 with Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting, calling the East Wing construction ‘likely illegal.’

A view of the ongoing construction of a helipad (L) and ballroom (R) at the White House, as seen from the Washington Monument observation deck in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 2026. The helipad landing site aims to solve problems associated with the new fleet of presidential helicopters built by Sikorsky. On August 31, the Supreme Court lifted a lower court ruling that had demanded a halt to the building of the controversial ballroom. (Credit: Aaron Schwartz / AFP via Getty Images)

Construction can continue on the immense White House ballroom a divided Supreme Court ruled on Monday. The decision, however, came with sharp criticism from Chief Justice John Roberts who dissented, calling the construction “likely illegal.”

But legality of the construction was not what the court was deciding in this latest round of the legal fight over the $400 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom. In a 5-4 vote, the majority said the preservationist case against the administration lacked standing, or a le…