Senate Republicans have officially dropped the $1 billion funding for security upgrades in Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project. Lawmakers reportedly grew concerned that the spending could put long-term funding for immigration enforcement at risk.
Senate Republicans make a decision about Donald Trump’s ballroom
Last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed on pulling the money for the ballroom’s security enhancements from a broader funding package. This package would authorize $70 billion in funding for agencies involved in enforcing Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign for the remainder of his term. However, the committee released a revised legislative text on Wednesday that did not include funding for the proposed security updates.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley gave a statement, accompanying the bill. “The Secure America Act will ensure Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding is no longer held hostage by Democrats’ radical leftist agenda. Democrats’ irresponsible and partisan government shutdown will result in a more robust DHS, with the funds to fulfill its mission through 2029,” he said.
Following the release of the updated text, the White House issued an official statement downplaying the removal of this funding. It read, “The parliamentarians’ decision was reported weeks ago. This framing is false as it implies that republicans removed it deliberately rather than under parliamentary pressure.”
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough had previously blocked the $1 billion fund. It was for the ballroom to be included in the Republicans’ budget reconciliation package. Democrats argued that the security-related funding did not belong in the proposed spending package (via BBC).
Trump pushed back against the decision at the time, blasting MacDonough in a May 20 Truth Social post. “Over the years, she has been brutal to Republicans, but not so to the Democrats,” the president wrote. Rallying for MacDonough’s replacement, he added, “There are many fair people who would be qualified for that vital job.”
