Trumps White House ballroom gets final approval days after a judge ordered a halt to construction

President Donald Trump’sWhite Houseballroomwon final approval from a key agency on Thursday, days aftera federal judge ordered a halt to constructionunlessCongressallows what would be the biggest structural change to the American landmark in more than 70 years.

TheNational Capital Planning Commission, the agency tasked with approving construction on federal property in theWashingtonregion, went ahead with the vote because U.S. District Judge Richard Leon’s ruling on Tuesday affects construction activities, not the planning process, commission spokespersonStephen Staudiglsaid.

But despite the agency’s approval, the judge’s ruling and the legal fight over theballroomcould stall progress on a legacy project that Trump is racing to see completed before the end of his term in early 2029. It’s among a series of changes the Republican president is planning for the nation’s capital to leave his lasting imprint while he’s still in office.

The vote by the 12-person commission, including three members appointed by Trump, had initially been scheduled for March but was pushed to Thursday because so many people signed up to comment on it at the commission’s meeting. The comments were overwhelmingly opposed to theballroom.

He removed a large staircase on the south side of the building and added an uncovered porch to the west side. Architects and other critics of the project had pannedthe staircaseas too large and basically useless since there was no way to enter theballroomat the top.

Trump gave no reason for the changes, but aWhite Houseofficial said the president had considered comments from theNational Capital Planning Commissionand another oversight entity, theU.S. Commission of Fine Arts, whichapproved the projectearlier this year, as well as members of the public.

The official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss theballroomdesign and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that additional “refinements” had been made to the building’s exterior and that lead architectShalom Baraneswould present them on Thursday.

Theballroom, now estimated to cost$400 million, has expanded in scope and price tag since Trump first announced the project last summer, citing a need for space other than a tent on the lawn to host important guests. Trumpdemolished the East Wingin October with little warning, and site preparation and underground work have been underway since then. Officials said above-ground construction would not start until April, at the earliest.

TheNational Capital Planning Commissionis chaired byWill Scharf,a topWhite Houseaide who has spoken in support of theballroomaddition. The president appoints three of the members, and Trump named two otherWhite Houseofficials along with Scharf.

Trump went ahead with the project before seeking input from theNational Capital Planning Commissionand theCommission of Fine Arts, which he reconstituted with allies and supporters.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a private nonprofit organization, sued after Trump demolished the East Wing last fall to build theballroomaddition — a space nearly twice as big as the mansion itself. Trump says it will be paid for with donations from wealthy people and corporations, including him, though public dollars are paying for underground bunkers and security upgrades on theWhite Housegrounds.

The trust sought a temporary halt to construction until Trump presented the project to both commissions andCongressfor approval. Leon, the judge, agreed but said that his order would take effect in two weeks and that construction related to security would be allowed.

That work continued Wednesday as new photos by The Associated Press show the site of the former East Wing bustling with activity as cranes stretched toward the sky.

The judge, who was nominated to the bench by Republican PresidentGeorge W. Bush, wrote in his ruling: “The President ofthe United Statesis the steward of theWhite Housefor future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” He concluded that theNational Trust for Historic Preservationwas likely to succeed on the merits of its claims because “no statute comes close to giving the President the authority he claims to have.”

Trump disputed thatCongressmust also approve his project.

“We built many things at theWhite Houseover the years. They don’t get congressional approval,” he told reporters in theOval Officeafter the ruling.

Representatives for theHouse and Senatecommittees with jurisdiction over the project did not return telephone messages seeking comment.Congressis on spring break.