The commission, which is chaired by a White House staffer, voted 9 to 1 to approve the design, which includes a ballroom with seating for 1,000 guests.

A contentious plan to add a massive ballroom to the White House has advanced despite a court order threatening to freeze construction, setting up a clash between federal planners and the judiciary. Even with that green light, the courtroom fight could ...

A panel of judges said Saturday it will allow construction on the 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom to continue for now, citing security.