The United States Supreme Court on Monday allowed construction to proceed on a $400 million ballroom project at the White House, delivering a temporary win for President Donald Trump amid ongoing legal challenges. The 5-4 decision overturned a previous temporary order that had paused the work and permits the administration to continue the development while the underlying lawsuit continues in lower courts.

The project, which includes demolition of parts of the East Wing, has drawn criticism from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The preservation group filed a lawsuit arguing that the Trump administration lacks the unilateral authority to undertake such extensive construction without explicit congressional approval. Federal courts had previously ruled that the work must halt due to this issue.

In its decision, the Supreme Court majority did not directly address the broader question of whether the administration has the legal authority to proceed without congressional consent. Instead, the court ruled that the National Trust likely does not have the legal standing required to bring the suit, effectively allowing construction to resume. The unsigned majority opinion also cited national security concerns presented by the government as part of its rationale for allowing the project to continue.

The ruling comes as the Trump administration seeks to reshape the White House complex, framing the ballroom and related facilities as part of a "Ballroom/Military Complex." President Trump publicly celebrated the decision on social media, describing it as an unqualified victory for his initiative.

However, the court’s three liberal-leaning justices, along with Chief Justice John Roberts—who had initially issued the temporary pause order—dissented sharply. Chief Justice Roberts wrote a separate opinion condemning the ruling, emphasizing that the project is “likely unlawful” without congressional authorization. He underscored concerns about the separation of powers, warning that the decision could set an improper precedent for executive authority.

The case will now return to lower courts for further litigation, but court documents suggest that significant portions of the ballroom project could be completed within months despite the ongoing legal dispute. The decision marks a notable moment in the balance of executive power, national security considerations, and historic preservation efforts surrounding the ongoing transformation of the White House under the Trump administration.