A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting a renovation project for a Trump-branded ballroom at the Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington, D.C., which formerly housed the Trump International Hotel. The order was granted on March 30, 2026, in response to a lawsuit filed by the Committee for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and other plaintiffs.
The lawsuit argues that the proposed renovation, which would create a "Trump Ballroom" and other event spaces, violates the lease agreement's prohibition on using the federally owned property for political purposes. The plaintiffs contend the project would effectively create a campaign headquarters for former President Donald Trump.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth found the plaintiffs demonstrated a likelihood of success on their claim that the renovation would cause "irreparable harm" by converting the property into a political venue. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until a hearing scheduled for April 10, 2026.
The Old Post Office Pavilion, a historic federal building, was leased to the Trump Organization in 2013. The hotel closed in 2022 after the property was sold. The current dispute centers on plans by the new leaseholder, a partnership including the Trump Organization, to renovate and rebrand parts of the building.
