A federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration to pause all above-ground construction on a planned $400 million, 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom unless Congress approves the project. The big picture: The court emphasized that decisions about such a major alteration to the White House must be made by Congress and not unilaterally by the Executive Branch. Driving the news: The White House had demolished the East Wing to make room for a ballroom Trump claimed would accommodate 999 people – the biggest White House change in over 70 years. Government lawyers argued the project was essential for national security, defending against threats like drones, missiles and biohazards. Preservationists countered that lacking a ballroom was not a national security emergency and should not override public process and oversight.