00:01A federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to hold all construction of its $400 million White House ballroom
00:09until it receives congressional approval.
00:12In a 2-1 decision, the court sided with historic preservationists who sued to stop construction of the massive structure,
00:19which has begun to rise above ground on the east side of the White House.
00:24The 8,400-square-meter ballroom is being constructed where the White House's historic east wing stood before Trump ordered
00:31its demolition last fall.
00:34The court said it would stay its ruling for two weeks to give the administration time to appeal to the
00:39U.S. Supreme Court.
00:41U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out after the ruling, calling it horrendous, politically motivated and unlawful, and vowed to
00:49appeal the decision.
00:50Several of Trump's construction projects, including a proposed 76-meter-tall triumphal arch, have similarly faced legal challenges, but the
00:59ballroom project would be the first to reach the Supreme Court.
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