National Trust for Historic Preservation v. NPS — D.C. Cir. (Jun 5, 2026)

No. 26-5123 Argued June 5, 2026 Published August 11, 2026; updated August 20, 2026

The D.C. Circuit hears National Trust for Historic Preservation versus National Park Service. The Trust challenged construction of a new ballroom on the White House grounds. The district court stopped above-ground work while allowing specified safety and below-ground work. The government will contest whether the Trust has standing to sue, defend its statutory authority for the project, and say national-security interests make an injunction improper. The Trust will answer that Congress has not expressly authorized the construction. After this argument, a divided panel affirmed the preliminary injunction. The government later asked the Supreme Court to stay the injunction.

National Trust for Historic Preservation v. NPS (No. 26-5123) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, argued June 5, 2026.

Sources

Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/docs/2026/06/26-5123.mp3

Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/bydate/2026/6

Opinion — U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2026/08/26-5123-2187096.pdf

Stay application docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/26a203.html

Stay application — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/26/26A203/419029/20260813211858520_August%20Ballroom%20Application%20-%20FINAL.pdf

0:00Introduction