Senate Republicans are advancing a budget reconciliation proposal that would authorize about $1 billion in federal funds for security-related work tied to President Trump’s planned White House ballroom and the East Wing modernization. Multiple outlets report that Republicans describe the money as intended for Secret Service security upgrades—such as “above-ground and below-ground” security features and related “security adjustments and upgrades”—rather than for constructing the ballroom itself. However, skepticism and procedural concerns are emerging within the GOP and in the Senate process. The Hill and other reports say some Republicans want more details before supporting the measure and that the proposal could be at risk of being stripped from the broader reconciliation package. The Washington Post reports a dispute between Senate Republicans and the White House about what the funds can be used for, with the White House arguing the ballroom provides a security function. Courthouse News and The Guardian add that Republicans contend DHS budget provisions block spending on “non-security” elements of the East Wing project, while Democrats argue a Senate ruling jeopardizes the funding’s availability for the ballroom-related plan. Trump has said the ballroom would be funded privately.
Senate Republicans propose $1B for White House ballroom security amid GOP backlash
Senate Republicans are advancing a budget reconciliation proposal that would authorize about $1 billion in federal funds for security-related work tied to President Trump’s planned White House ballroo...
- Senate Republicans propose about $1 billion in federal funding for security work connected to the White House ballroom and East Wing modernization.
- Republicans say the funds are for Secret Service security upgrades, not ballroom construction or other non-security elements.
- Some GOP members express skepticism and seek additional details, and the provision faces uncertainty in a budget reconciliation package.
- The White House disputes that the security rationale is limited, arguing the ballroom relates to security functions.
- A Senate procedural development involving the parliamentarian is reported to jeopardize the security funding being used for the ballroom-related project.
The Trump administration has sought nearly $1bn in taxpayer funds to complete the ballroom project, citing security.
3 months agoPresident Trump's $1 billion request to fund security for the White House ballroom faces a test in the Senate, which could start voting on a reconciliation package on Thursday that may not include the money. The legislative text to fund immigration enforcement agencies hasn't yet been released, but inclusion of the ballroom funding has faced...
3 months agoCongressional Republicans are navigating tricky political and procedural obstacles to funding security components at the new White House ballroom in a spending package for immigration enforcement that is moving through the Senate this week.
3 months agoPresident says $400m building costs to be funded by private donors, but has asked for taxpayers to cover security costsShouting over the banging and clanging sounds from heavy construction equipment, Donald Trump on Tuesday gave a group of reporters a closer look at the construction for the White House ballroom he’s building on the site of the former East Wing to mount a defense of the project that has hit a speed bump in Congress.The administration has asked for $1bn from taxpayers for security additions on the White House campus, including for the ballroom. But the Senate parliamentarian ruled the proposal could not be included in a bill to fund immigrant enforcement agencies for three years, and several Republican lawmakers have balked at the price tag in an election year where voters are grappling with gasoline, grocery and other prices spurred to new heights by the Iran war and the disruption in oil supplies. Continue reading...
3 months agoSenate parliamentarian ruled a proposal to fund $1bn in security additions for the White House failed to meet procedural rules. Key US politics stories from Sunday 17 May 2026 at a glanceA US Senate official on Saturday removed security funding that could be used for Donald Trump’s planned $400m White House ballroom from a massive spending package, Democratic lawmakers said, imperilling Republican efforts to devote taxpayer money to the contentious project.The decision by the Senate’s parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, deals a blow to Trump and his administration, which has sought the money for security purposes related to the ballroom. Continue reading...
3 months agoA GOP bill aiming to use $1 billion of taxpayer money to finance required security for President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom was denied in a Saturday night ruling on technical grounds. Senate Republicans attempted to include the ballroom project in a budget reconciliation bill—which also includes roughly $38 billion for ICE and $26 billion […]
3 months ago
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