Republicans expected to abandon $1B security proposal for White House and Trump’s ballroom
Senate rules officials said the $1 billion ballroom item could not pass under budget reconciliation as Republicans sought to relabel it as security funding.
- On Thursday, the Senate blocked Republican efforts to include $1 billion for White House ballroom security upgrades in an immigration bill after the Senate clerk ruled the move violated the Byrd Rule, preventing passage via simple majority.
- Trump previously sought $400 million for the addition, which grew from a $200 million estimate, claiming the structure would prevent security threats like the attack at the Washington Hilton last month.
- GOP leaders are now attempting to keep the $1 billion in the bill by classifying it as Secret Service security upgrades within a broader $70 billion immigration enforcement measure.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the proposal, calling it a "personal gift to Donald J. Trump," while Sen. Bill Cassidy questioned the lack of architectural plans justifying the $1 billion cost.
- On Sunday, May 17, author Eric Metaxas claimed at a National Mall prayer event that Trump was "divinely ordained" to build the ballroom, remarking the country waited 200 years for the project.
62 Articles
62 Articles
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