President Donald Trump looks on as he leaves the congress center during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)
Attorney Thad Heuer, who represents the National Trust for Historic Preservation, contended that the president lacks the constitutional power to rip down the East Wing and build a ballroom, according to NBC News, which quoted Heuer as saying, "He's not the owner."
The outlet reported that the judge seemed to be leaning in the direction of pausing the project.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Friday.
WHITE HOUSE SAYS EAST WING DEMOLITION WAS NECESSARY DUE TO STRUCTURAL ISSUES
"The president didn’t want $400 million in taxpayer money to be used for this," Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth said, according to NBC News.
"He wanted to use donations," Roth noted.
The project began last year at the behest of Trump, but he has asserted that it is being funded by private donations, not taxpayer dollars.
WARREN-LED INQUIRY DRAWS NEW DETAILS ON TRUMP BALLROOM DONATIONS FROM MAJOR CORPORATIONS
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"I am honored to be the first President to finally get this much-needed project underway — with zero cost to the American Taxpayer!" Trump declared in an October Truth Social post. "The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly. This Ballroom will be happily used for Generations to come!"
Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/federal-judge-questions-trump-authority-white-house-ballroom-project