India, Aug. 7 -- A US federal appeals court has halted construction of President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom project, handing the administration a major setback in a legal battle over presidential authority and changes to the historic presidential complex.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday upheld a preliminary injunction secured by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The injunction challenged the project after the administration demolished the White House's East Wing and began work on the proposed ballroom without seeking approval from Congress.

The 2-1 ruling blocks above-ground construction of the 90,000-square-foot (8,360-square-metre) ballroom for now. Howev...