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Work continues on the construction of the White House's ballroom, where the East Wing once stood. (AP: Martinez Monsivais)

US President Donald Trump is being sued by preservationists who are asking a federal court to halt his White House ballroom project.

They want the project to go through multiple reviews and gain approval from the US Congress before construction continues.

The White House is expected to submit plans for the ballroom project to a federal planning commission before the new year, about three months after construction began.

US President Donald Trump has been sued by preservationists who want a federal court to halt his White House ballroom project until it goes through multiple independent reviews and wins approval from Congress.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded group, is asking the US District Court to block Mr Trump's White House ballroom addition, until it goes through comprehensive design reviews, environmental assessments, public comments, and congressional ratification.

Donald Trump has bypassed the federal government's usual building practices with the East Wing demolition, in order to build the ballroom. (Reuters: Al Drago)

The lawsuit is the most tangible effort thus far to alter or stop the president's plans for an addition that itself would be nearly twice the size of the White House before the East Wing's demolition.

"No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President Trump, not President Biden, and not anyone else," the lawsuit states.