Appeals court orders halt of $400 million White House ballroom constructionConstruction continues on a helipad and the White House Ballroom on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Washington. In June, Democrats warned that $350 million in funds from a tax cuts law appeared to have been redirected to the White House for security, including the ballroom. Attorneys for the preservation group countered that the lack of a White House ballroom doesn’t constitute a national security emergency. In response, the appeals court instructed the judge to reconsider the national security implications of stopping construction. The judge stressed that the White House is free to proceed with underground work, including the construction of any bunkers, military installations and medical facilities.