Federal judge temporarily blocks construction of Trump's White House ballroom

The judge in Washington issued an order halting the construction of Trump's expansive new White House ballroom and any further demolition of the East Wing.

A federal judge in Washington has issued an order temporarily blocking the construction of President Donald Trump's expansive new White House ballroom and any further demolition of the East Wing.

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“I have concluded that the National Trust is likely to succeed on the merits because no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have," wrote U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon, an appointee of President George W. Bush.

The ruling blocks the administration “from taking any action in furtherance of the physical development of the proposed ballroom at the former site of the East Wing of the White House, including but not limited to any further demolition, site preparation work, landscape alteration, excavation, foundation work, or other construction or related work, other than actions strictly necessary to ensure the safety and security of the White House and its grounds."