Supreme Court allows White House ballroom construction

The US Supreme Court, through Chief Justice John Roberts, issued an administrative stay on August 21, 2026, temporarily allowing the Trump administration to continue construction of the proposed United States — White House ballroom. This stay pauses a lower court injunction that had halted above-ground construction. The project, a 90,000-square-foot ballroom with underground bunkers, is estimated to cost $400 million and is about 65% complete. Lower courts had ruled that the project requires congressional approval, but the administration argues it is a national security imperative. The stay is temporary and does not resolve the underlying legal dispute.