Photo: G. Edward Johnson | CC BY 4.0 | Wikimedia Commons
Senate GOP Drops $1 Billion White House Security Request As DOJ Seeks Ballroom Construction Restart
Senate Republicans abandoned a roughly $1 billion White House security request tied to the planned East Wing ballroom and delayed marathon budget votes on May 21, 2026, after mounting GOP opposition.[1]
Days later, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche filed in federal court late Sunday asking a judge to let ballroom construction resume and calling the 9,000-square-foot facility a "SAFE HAVEN" necessary for the president to "safely conduct the business of the United States." CBS News
Republican leaders postponed votes and chose not to begin the planned marathon series before the Memorial Day recess.[2] The delay reflected that anger over a separate $1.776 billion Department of Justice "Anti-Weaponization Fund" had eclipsed the ballroom fight and made passage risky for leaders.[3] Blanche's filing also lists granular security features — from missile- and drone-resistant columns to hermetically sealed roofing — and repeats Justice Department arguments that the space is integral to White House protection.[4]
On May 11, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned Democrats would fight the $1 billion security paragraph and asked the Senate parliamentarian to strike it from the budget fast-track package.[5] Secret Service Director Sean Curran then briefed Senate Republicans and handed out a one-page handout that broke the request into line items.[6] President Trump led reporters to the East Wing site on May 19 and said the ballroom itself would cost about $400 million and be privately funded.[7]
Early coverage framed the funding as part of a GOP push to finish a roughly $70 billion ICE and Border Patrol reconciliation package, but a parliamentarian ruling that the ballroom spending violated the Byrd Rule and public defections from senators including Thom Tillis, John Kennedy and Susan Collins eroded support and helped push leaders to drop the paragraph.[8]
The mainstream summary frames the GOP's abandonment of the $1 billion security request as a straightforward consequence of internal dissent and procedural challenges. However, Politico's analysis argues that this maneuver was more about political gamesmanship, with Republicans using the security funding as leverage in a broader reconciliation package rather than genuinely addressing national security needs. This perspective highlights the cynical nature of the tactic, suggesting that the GOP's approach was designed to force Democrats into a difficult position rather than to advance effective policy. Furthermore, while the mainstream account notes the procedural challenges, it downplays the broader implications of this episode, which reflects a troubling trend of prioritizing tactical maneuvers over substantive legislative progress, as pointed out by both Politico and The Wall Street Journal.
Additionally, while the mainstream summary mentions the opposition from Senate Democrats, it does not fully capture the extent of the internal Republican dissent, which includes notable figures like Senators Thom Tillis and Susan Collins expressing skepticism about the provision. The Wall Street Journal emphasizes that while the security measures may have merit, the timing and manner of their introduction have turned what could be a legitimate security request into a political liability for the GOP. This nuanced criticism suggests that the party's strategy could undermine their broader messaging on economic issues and governance credibility, an angle that the mainstream coverage does not adequately explore.[9][10]
Show source details & analysis (18 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, May 11, 2026, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter vowing Democrats will fight the $1 billion White House security provision — including asking the Senate parliamentarian to strike it from the reconciliation bill and forcing amendment votes (Chuck Schumer).
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Secret Service Director Sean Curran briefed Senate Republicans and distributed a one-page handout outlining the $1 billion request, which broke the package into line items including about $220 million for White House complex hardening tied to the East Wing ballroom, $180 million for a new visitors‑screening facility, and multiple allocations for training, protectee security, counter‑drone and other defenses (one-page handout).
- Over the weekend before May 18, 2026, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled the ballroom funding violated the Byrd Rule and removed roughly $1 billion in White House security spending from the reconciliation package on the grounds that its scale and complexity implicated agencies beyond the committee jurisdiction allowed under reconciliation (Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough).
- On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Senate Republican leaders signaled they would abandon the $1 billion White House/ballroom security paragraph and postponed planned marathon reconciliation votes, effectively delaying the immigration enforcement package until after the Memorial Day recess (Senate Republican leaders).
- By May 21, 2026, Republican anger over the $1.776 billion DOJ 'Anti‑Weaponization Fund' had eclipsed the ballroom dispute and become the primary obstacle to advancing the reconciliation bill, contributing to the decision to delay votes (Anti-Weaponization fund).
- On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, President Trump led reporters to the East Wing site, described the ballroom as a privately funded roughly $400 million project that would extend six stories underground and include features he called a 'drone port,' military‑grade defenses and a ballroom sized for about 1,000 people (President Trump).
- Late Sunday, May 24, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a motion in federal court seeking to resume ballroom construction, arguing the 9,000‑square‑foot East Wing ballroom is a 'SAFE HAVEN' necessary for the president to 'safely conduct the business of the United States' and detailing extensive missile‑, blast‑, drone‑ and biological‑defense features (Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche).
- A Washington, D.C., district judge temporarily halted ballroom construction last month pending congressional authorization and raised questions about the project's private financing and lack of direct congressional approval, but an appellate court allowed construction to continue until at least early June while appeals proceed (Judge Richard Leon).
- Internal Republican opposition mounted quickly: multiple GOP senators — including Thom Tillis, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Rick Scott and others — publicly expressed skepticism about using reconciliation to fund ballroom security, and on May 20, 2026 President Trump publicly attacked the parliamentarian and privately pressed GOP leaders to remove her after her ruling (President Trump).
📊 Analysis & Commentary (3)
The game(smanship) of politics
"The author criticizes Republicans’ tactic of tacking $1 billion in East Wing security funding onto an ICE funding reconciliation bill as cynical political gamesmanship, argues it is procedurally and politically fraught (and likely to prompt parliamentary fights by Democrats), and frames the episode as symptomatic of headline-driven, adversarial lawmaking rather than sober governance."
The GOP’s Ballroom Bumble
"This WSJ opinion piece comments on the Senate fight over $1 billion in White House security funding (including East Wing/ballroom hardening) — the same dispute covered in 'Senate GOP Pushback Grows As Trump Demands Parliamentarian's Ouster Over Ballroom Security Ruling' — and argues that, while the security case has merit, Trump and Senate Republicans have bungled the tactic and timing, turning a defensible request into a damaging political spectacle that Democrats will exploit."
Senate Republicans are running out of time to prove they can actually govern
"The Fox News opinion piece comments on the Senate reconciliation fight (notably Sen. Thom Tillis's opposition and the parliamentarian's removal of the White House security item), arguing that Republicans must overcome internal divisions and procedural hurdles — even if that means sidelining filibuster deference or other traditions — to deliver promised border and enforcement funding or risk losing their governing credibility."
📰 Source Timeline (18)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
May 25, 2026
2:31 PM
AG requests to resume ballroom construction, citing latest shooting
New information:
- Late Sunday, May 24, 2026, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche filed a motion in federal court seeking to resume construction of the White House ballroom, explicitly citing the May 23 shooting near a Secret Service checkpoint as underscoring the need for the project.
- Blanche's filing asserts that without the 9,000-square-foot ballroom, which he describes as a 'SAFE HAVEN' and 'knitted, unified, cohesive part of the East Wing Project,' the president 'cannot safely conduct the business of the United States.'
- The motion details extensive planned security features for the East Wing ballroom complex, including a heavy steel, drone-proof roof; missile-resistant and drone-proof columns; bullet-, ballistic- and blast-proof glass; military-grade venting; bomb shelters; a state-of-the-art hospital; top-secret military installations; a drone port; and sniper stations, with the roof to be hermetically sealed against airborne contaminants.
- The article reiterates that a Washington, D.C. district judge last month temporarily halted ballroom construction pending congressional approval, that the Senate parliamentarian has ruled the $1 billion security funding cannot be included in the DHS reconciliation bill, and that Congress left for recess without acting, while an appellate court has nonetheless allowed construction to continue until at least early June when it will hear the case.
- Blanche previously advanced similar national-security arguments after an earlier shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and Judge Richard Leon has publicly expressed concern about the project's $400 million private financing structure and lack of direct congressional authorization.
May 21, 2026
11:39 PM
GOP immigration enforcement bill stalls amid backlash to $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund
New information:
- By May 21, 2026, Senate Republican leaders had not only moved to abandon the roughly $1 billion White House security and ballroom funding but had also delayed the entire immigration enforcement bill to at least the week of June 1 because of unresolved objections to the DOJ settlement fund.
- The article confirms that Republican senators’ anger over the $1.776 billion settlement fund has now eclipsed the ballroom funding issue as the main obstacle to advancing the reconciliation bill.
- John Thune said on May 21 that the White House’s decision to announce the settlement without consulting Congress 'made everything way harder than it should be,' indicating the settlement is reshaping floor strategy for the immigration package.
7:16 PM
Republicans stall votes on partisan ICE funding amid party infighting
New information:
- NPR reports on May 21, 2026, that Congress is now expected to leave Washington for a weeklong recess without passing the GOP immigration enforcement funding bill, extending the stall beyond earlier expectations that Senate Republicans would simply strip the ballroom funding and move forward.
- The article ties the stall directly to Trump's recent intraparty interventions, including endorsements against GOP incumbents, and suggests that some Republicans feel newly emboldened to oppose his priorities after surviving or losing primaries.
- Sen. Bill Cassidy's post-primary opposition to the ballroom request is highlighted as a key indicator that party discipline around Trump's security and ballroom wish list has broken down.
- The piece reinforces that the Anti-Weaponization Fund remains a central sticking point even after the parliamentarian removed the ballroom paragraph from the reconciliation package, contributing to leadership's decision not to hold votes before recess.
5:48 PM
Senate GOP delays reconciliation vote amid opposition to DOJ fund, ballroom
New information:
- As of Thursday afternoon, May 21, 2026, Senate Republicans had not yet released new reconciliation bill text and formally abandoned plans to begin a marathon vote series that evening, instead deciding not to vote on the package before Memorial Day recess.
- The article confirms that opposition to both the $1 billion Secret Service security package tied to the East Wing ballroom and the DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund together prompted the decision to delay consideration of the reconciliation bill.
- It reports that Senate Republicans anticipated being forced to vote on Democratic amendments targeting the DOJ fund under reconciliation rules, which increased internal resistance.
- House planning had assumed a Friday vote to approve the package if the Senate acted, but the upper chamber’s delay forced reconsideration, with some House Republicans already indicating openness to voting after the recess.
2:55 PM
Republicans expected to abandon $1B security proposal for White House and Trump's ballroom
New information:
- On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Senate Republican leaders are expected to abandon the $1 billion White House complex and Trump ballroom security proposal after internal GOP backlash.
- Sen. John Kennedy said on Wednesday, May 20, that the immigration enforcement bill is "back to square one" without the security money because "the votes are not there."
- The $1 billion provision had been pushed by the White House for inclusion in a roughly $70 billion ICE and Border Patrol funding bill and is now the main obstacle to moving that package.
- Republican senators are scheduled to meet with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday, May 21, to discuss placing parameters on the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization fund as they finalize bill text.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged "ongoing vote issues" tied both to the security paragraph and to GOP concerns about the structure and oversight of the settlement fund.
- Democrats are planning amendments in the reconciliation process that could block the Anti-Weaponization fund or bar payouts to Jan. 6 offenders, and GOP leaders are weighing ways to "fence in" the fund to avoid defections.
May 20, 2026
8:55 PM
Democratic senators will test GOP unity with votes on Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Sen. John Kennedy said the ICE–Border Patrol funding bill was 'back to square one' without the $1 billion security package because 'the votes are not there.'
- Sen. Thom Tillis said on May 20 that adding the security package was a 'bad idea' and that he does not believe there is enough support to pass it, even in reduced form.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged 'ongoing vote issues' among Republicans and 'ongoing parliamentarian issues' regarding what can be included in the bill under Senate rules.
- Republican opposition has led GOP senators to actively consider dropping the $1 billion White House/ballroom security request from the roughly $70 billion ICE and Border Patrol bill.
- The article links the internal GOP backlash over the security funding to broader frustration with President Trump's $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund and his May 19 endorsement of Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn.
5:22 PM
Trump demands Senate parliamentarian's ouster for axing ballroom security funding
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, President Trump publicly attacked Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough on Truth Social and questioned why Republicans have not replaced her.
- Trump accused MacDonough of having been "brutal to Republicans" and claimed she was appointed by former President Barack Obama and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
- Fox News reports Trump privately pressed Senate Majority Leader John Thune earlier in the week to fire MacDonough after she ruled that roughly $1 billion in White House security funding, including East Wing ballroom-related items, could not go through reconciliation.
- Thune said he is not having discussions about firing MacDonough and described anger at the parliamentarian as common "every time there's a reconciliation."
- Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley and Sen. John Kennedy both rejected the idea of removing MacDonough, with Kennedy joking, "Does she have a DWI or something?"
- The article notes Republicans are still debating whether to include any of the White House security money, with about $600 million designated for the Secret Service and $220 million for East Wing Modernization security, after MacDonough’s ruling.
May 19, 2026
8:17 PM
WATCH: Trump calls planned White House ballroom 'a gift' to U.S.
New information:
- On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, President Donald Trump led reporters to a viewing platform at the former East Wing site to show active construction of the new White House ballroom and associated complex.
- Trump reiterated that the administration has requested $1 billion in taxpayer funding for White House campus security additions 'including for the ballroom,' even after the Senate parliamentarian ruled the provision could not be included in the immigration enforcement funding bill.
- He described technical security features including a 'dead flat' roof made of 'very strong steel' that he claimed is both 'drone-proof' and intended as a 'drone port' for military monitoring of Washington, with all HVAC and ductwork hidden inside the walls.
- Trump said the new structure will go six stories underground and incorporate a military hospital, research facilities, offices for the first lady and staff, and a full-service kitchen, alongside a ballroom large enough for 1,000 people.
- He asserted that the roughly $400 million cost of the ballroom itself will be covered by private donors, including himself, and called the ballroom 'a gift to the United States of America,' saying 'This is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer.'
- The article notes that public polling, including a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos survey conducted in April 2026, shows a majority of U.S. adults (56%) oppose the ballroom project, and that the construction remains embroiled in federal litigation.
4:51 PM
Trump pulls back curtain on White House ballroom’s fortress-like defenses above and deep below
New information:
- On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, President Trump led reporters on an on-site tour of the White House ballroom construction area and described it as a hardened structure extending about six stories underground.
- Trump said the facility is being built with "impenetrable" steel, four-inch-thick glass and about 9,000 pounds of concrete, and that it will house a military hospital, research facilities, meeting rooms and security infrastructure tied to drone and missile defense.
- He characterized the flat roof as a "drone port" with capacity for "unlimited numbers of drones" and integrated positions for U.S. snipers to oversee areas "all over Washington."
- Trump stated that Congress is approving funds for security enhancements while emphasizing that he and private donors are putting up "a lot of money" to construct the ballroom itself, which he framed as both an event space and a protective "shield" for underlying systems.
- The article notes that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued over the demolition of the East Wing for the project, and that litigation remains unresolved as construction continues.
- Trump linked many of the security features to heightened concerns after a recent shooting tied to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, using that incident to justify the ballroom's fortified design.
May 18, 2026
10:36 PM
Senate Republicans confirm nearly 50 of Trump's picks for energy, land management
New information:
- On Monday, May 18, 2026, Senate Republicans confirmed 49 of President Trump's nominees in a single batch, bringing his total installed civilian nominees to about 60%.
- The batch included nominees for 20 different types of positions, among them a dozen U.S. attorneys, several U.S. marshals, ambassadors, and officials at the Departments of War, Transportation, Energy and other agencies.
- The confirmations also included Stevan Pearce, a former member of Congress, as director of the Bureau of Land Management.
- Fox News reports this is the fourth time since last year's rules change that Republicans have confirmed a large slate of nominees in one go, using the "nuclear option" to require only a simple majority for many picks.
- The article reiterates that Republicans are trying to finish a $72 billion ICE and Border Patrol reconciliation package by June 1, 2026, and notes again that the Senate parliamentarian has stripped $1 billion in White House security funding from the bill.
8:01 PM
Senate Republican threatens to derail ICE, Border Patrol package over Trump's billion-dollar request
New information:
- On Monday, May 18, 2026, reporting confirmed that Sen. Thom Tillis told colleagues he will not support the $72 billion ICE and Border Patrol reconciliation package if it includes $1 billion for President Trump's ballroom.
- The article details that the $1 billion request includes $220 million for White House complex hardening around the ballroom, $180 million for a new White House visitor screening center, and about $600 million for Secret Service training and broader security measures such as counter-drone defenses.
- Over the weekend before May 18, 2026, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the ballroom funding violates the Byrd Rule because its scale and complexity involve multiple agencies outside the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction, leading to its removal from the reconciliation package.
- The piece names additional skeptical Republican senators — John Curtis, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Rick Scott — as not being "thrilled" with the ballroom funding, though their opposition is less categorical than Tillis's.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune is quoted describing the reconciliation and Byrd Rule process as a "give-and-take" but saying Republicans still plan to push the ICE/Border Patrol funding package forward by the end of the week, minus the ballroom line.
May 14, 2026
11:58 PM
‘The East Wing ballroom all over again’: Democrats have questions about Trump’s new arch — and Burgum’s potential perjury
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum testified to Congress that President Trump’s planned 250‑foot memorial arch at Memorial Circle was only at the ‘discussion’ stage with ‘no final agency action’ and ‘not a proposal.’
- On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, visited the Memorial Circle traffic circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery and observed two fenced-off, curtain-covered work zones with workers and equipment operating inside one area.
- Huffman sent Burgum a letter on May 14, 2026, warning him that it is a federal crime to make false statements to Congress and offering him an opportunity to revise or clarify his testimony regarding the arch project.
- A Department of the Interior spokesperson told MS NOW that geotechnical site surveys have begun in Memorial Circle, describing the work as statutorily required, standard practice before any final proposal, and insisting Burgum’s testimony was ‘100% accurate.’
- The article reports that, according to The Washington Post, the White House plans to initiate work at the arch site using an existing, unrelated engineering-services contract for the White House complex, a move that could bypass a lengthy public bidding process.
May 13, 2026
5:41 PM
Republicans push back against Trump’s ballroom funding request
New information:
- As of Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a growing number of House and Senate Republicans, including moderates and hardliners, are publicly expressing skepticism and irritation over the $1 billion White House security paragraph in the immigration reconciliation bill.
- The article specifies that $220 million of the $1 billion security request is earmarked for the East Wing ballroom, including bulletproof glass and drone detection systems, according to a breakdown shown to GOP senators.
- Rep. Don Bacon, a retiring Nebraska Republican, said the plan had been sold to voters as donor-funded and argued the ballroom "should be a donor-driven project" rather than a taxpayer expense.
- Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said on May 13 that Trump had indicated the ballroom would be built with private donations and that "commitment should be kept," signaling opposition to appropriating federal funds.
- Sen. Rand Paul reiterated that he supports allowing the White House to build the ballroom with private funds and said that remains his preference.
- An unnamed House Republican told MS NOW that members, particularly those in swing seats, are "really irritated" and do not understand why ballroom security needs to be a priority in the reconciliation bill as gas prices and inflation rise.
- Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with Senate Republicans at their weekly lunch on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, to present a detailed breakdown of the $1 billion request, including the $220 million ballroom line item.
- A letter from Secret Service Director Sean Curran and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to congressional leaders, sent the prior week, argued the $1 billion is needed to respond to an "unprecedented" increase in threats against the president and other officials, citing the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting as part of the security rationale.
4:36 PM
Republican senators say they need more detail on $1B White House security request
New information:
- On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Secret Service Director Sean Curran briefed Senate Republicans at their closed-door party lunch and distributed a one-page handout detailing the $1 billion White House security request.
- The handout specifies that the $220 million tied to President Trump's new East Wing ballroom would fund bulletproof glass, drone-detection technologies, chemical and other threat-filtration and detection systems, and other security functions.
- Curran's breakdown lists $180 million for a new, "long overdue" White House visitors screening facility and $175 million for training agents for a "modern threat environment."
- Sen. Rick Scott said on May 12 he wants more detailed justification for the $1 billion figure, comparing it to due diligence he would require in business and noting the breakdown remains too vague.
- Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins questioned why the requested security upgrades were not included in President Trump's formal budget submission earlier this year and said she asked for "a lot more data."
- Sen. Todd Young said he could support "a certain measure of ballroom funding" but described the figures given as only "broad categories" and requested more detail on how the numbers were derived.
- Sen. Rand Paul reiterated his view on May 11 that security costs for the ballroom should be privately funded and questioned whether the Secret Service truly needs additional money after prior budget increases following an earlier assassination attempt.
- The article explicitly links internal GOP skepticism over the security request to potential jeopardy for the broader partisan immigration enforcement funding bill that Republicans aim to pass via reconciliation without Democratic votes.
4:03 PM
What's in the billion-dollar paragraph behind the White House ballroom debate
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the Secret Service director held a closed-door briefing with Senate Republicans to explain the proposed $1 billion White House security request.
- PBS obtained the one-page Secret Service handout given to senators, detailing $220 million for 'White House Complex Hardening' including above- and below-ground security and bulletproof glass.
- The document lists $180 million for a new 'Visitors Screening Facility' to provide secure and efficient screening at the White House.
- It allocates $175 million for Secret Service 'Training' and another $175 million for 'Enhancements for Protectee Security,' including security at frequently visited venues.
- The handout sets aside $150 million for countering 'evolving threats and technology,' such as drones, airspace intrusions and biological threats.
- It adds $100 million for security at 'Events of National Significance,' defined as large-scale, high-profile national events.
- Sen. Josh Hawley indicated he is largely supportive of the request, while Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins said she has 'asked for a lot more data' before committing.
1:07 PM
Senate Republicans balk at $1B White House ballroom request: ‘You made that number up’
New information:
- On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Secret Service Director Sean Curran briefed Senate Republicans behind closed doors on the $1 billion security request tied to immigration reconciliation.
- Curran’s one-page breakdown earmarked about $220 million for 'White House complex hardening' around the planned East Wing ballroom, including bulletproof glass, drone detection, and chemical filtration and detection systems.
- The document also outlined $180 million for a new White House visitor screening center and roughly $600 million for Secret Service training, enhanced protection for President Trump and other officials, and counter‑drone and other aerial‑incursion defenses.
- Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, and Sen. Todd Young, R-Neb., said after the briefing that the Secret Service still needed to provide more detailed justification for how it arrived at the $1 billion figure.
- Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., argued that describing the entire $1 billion as 'for a ballroom' is inaccurate because a majority of the funds are designated for broader protective and training needs.
May 11, 2026
3:39 PM
Democrats vow to fight Senate Republicans' $1 billion security proposal for White House ballroom
New information:
- On Monday, May 11, 2026, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter vowing Democrats will fight the $1 billion White House security provision, including by asking the Senate parliamentarian to strike it from the reconciliation bill and by forcing amendment votes.
- Schumer characterized the GOP bill as a "deficit-busting" measure that would pour "billions" into ICE and a "billion-dollar ballroom" while doing nothing to end what he called the illegal war in Iran or address affordability issues.
- The article confirms Senate Republicans explicitly tied the $1 billion Secret Service funding to "security adjustments and upgrades" for the East Wing ballroom project, including above- and below-ground security features, while barring use for non-security elements.
- President Trump has said the ballroom construction itself would cost $400 million and be funded privately, though he had not previously stated a specific figure for security costs.
- Rep. Rob Wittman, a Virginia Republican, said on the record that he will examine whether the proposed security expenditures are in the national interest and wants details on how they fit into the total construction costs, signaling some GOP unease.
- The article notes it is unclear whether the security money has sufficient backing among Republicans and that the House has not yet released its version of the immigration and security funding bill.