AdvertisementAdvertisementOngoing construction of the White House ballroom, as seen from the Washington Monument on Mar 10, 2026. (Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin)12 Apr 2026 03:26PM Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInAdd CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.Read a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST WASHINGTON: A federal appeals court has ruled US President Donald Trump's US$400 million White House ballroom renovation can proceed, albeit temporarily, and called for a district judge to clarify national security-related questions.The project aims to construct a massive ballroom on the site of the White House's East Wing - previously best known for housing the First Lady's offices. It was demolished in September.A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled 2-1 to give the administration until Apr 17 to continue working on the project and "seek Supreme Court review", in the court order released Saturday.The order also calls on the federal district court Judge Richard Leon to clarify questions on White House safety and security raised in earlier proceedings.Last month, Leon ordered a halt to construction, saying Trump needed congressional approval for the project.Leon wrote in that order that Trump is a "steward" of the White House, adding: "He is not, however, the owner!"The lawsuit against the renovation was brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States.Source: AFP/nhSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST