Washington: (RightNow) A US federal appeals court has ordered a halt to President Donald Trump’s $400 million plan to build a ballroom at the White House. The court stated that changes to the White House infrastructure cannot proceed without Congress’s approval.

The court’s decision emphasized that only Congress has the authority to alter the White House’s fundamental structure. The case was filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, arguing that the Trump administration began constructing the ballroom by demolishing the East Wing without congressional approval.

The court has delayed its decision for 14 days to allow the Trump administration to appeal to the US Supreme Court. Previously, a district court had also ordered a halt to above-ground construction while allowing underground work to continue.

The Trump administration claims the new ballroom is necessary for official events and is being funded privately, thus arguing that the court should not intervene.

It is important to note that due to the White House’s historical significance, any construction or renovation requires Congress’s approval. The court stated that citing national security does not justify bypassing the law.