Lawmakers argue Trump administration cannot proceed with East Wing construction without explicit authorization and federal funding approval from Congress
A coalition of roughly 150 Democratic lawmakers has filed a legal brief opposing the continuation of construction work on the White House East Wing ballroom project, arguing that the executive branch lacks authority to proceed without congressional approval.
The filing, led by Reps. Robert Garcia and Jared Huffman of California and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, claims that the Constitution grants Congress exclusive control over federal property and that any demolition or new construction at the White House requires explicit legislative authorization and funding.
The dispute centers on the Trump administration’s plan to build a privately funded $400 million ballroom and associated facilities within the East Wing. Lawmakers argue that existing appropriations for routine maintenance, estimated at around $2.5 million, do not justify large-scale reconstruction.
The administration, however, contends that existing statutes allowing maintenance and repair of the executive residence provide sufficient legal basis for the project. Officials have also framed the construction as a matter of national security and infrastructure modernization.
The case has already moved through multiple court rulings, including a temporary halt and subsequent appellate decision allowing construction to continue while legal arguments proceed. Additional briefs from ethics organizations and preservation groups have raised concerns about funding sources, conflicts of interest, and the impact on historic federal property.
The court is expected to hear further arguments next week as the legal and political battle over the project intensifies.
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