Senate Parliamentarian Blocks Funding for White House Ballroom Security
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The Senate parliamentarian ruled against including $1 billion for White House security enhancements, including President Trump's planned ballroom, in a GOP-led spending bill.
The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a $1 billion proposal for security enhancements at the White House, including President Donald Trump's planned East Wing renovation and ballroom, cannot be included in a GOP-led immigration enforcement funding bill due to procedural issues. This decision temporarily halts Republican efforts to pass the funding through a fast-track process that avoids filibusters and requires only a simple majority.
The funding was intended to bolster White House security—such as a new visitor screening center and enhanced agent training—after a recent assassination attempt on Trump. While Republicans argue that private donations would build the ballroom and federal dollars would focus solely on security enhancements, Democrats have criticized the proposal as diverting taxpayer funds from more pressing needs.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats hailed the decision and pledged to continue opposing any similar attempts. Despite this setback, the broader $72 billion immigration funding package—supporting ICE and Border Patrol operations through 2029—mostly remains intact. Republicans plan to revise the bill to comply with the parliamentarian's ruling.