Senate Removes White House Ballroom Funding From Reconciliation Bill
Senate Republicans removed $1 billion in White House security funding amid parliamentarian hurdles and GOP opposition tied to a roughly $1.776–$1.8 billion settlement fund.
Washington ExaminerGOP weighs ditching White House security funding over ballroom
PJ MediaThe Senate Didn’t Kill Trump’s Ballroom. It Dodged the Security Bill.
SemaforRepublicans set to scrap Trumpâs ballroom money
ABC NewsRepublicans mull dropping $1 billion security money request for the White House and Trump's ballroom
Overview
Senate Republicans removed funding for the planned White House East Wing ballroom from a reconciliation immigration enforcement bill, and Sen. John Kennedy said Wednesday that "the ballroom money is out."
Republicans had sought to add about $1 billion in Secret Service and White House security to a roughly $70 billion ICE and Border Patrol funding bill, but the Senate parliamentarian ruled parts could not remain under reconciliation, senators said.
President Trump urged Republicans to fire the Senate parliamentarian in a social media post while senators including Sen. Thom Tillis and Sen. John Thune acknowledged ongoing vote and parliamentarian issues, senators said.
About $220 million of the request was slated for ballroom-related security, with other items including $180 million for a visitor screening facility and $350 million for training and protectees, according to Senate sources.
Senate leaders have not released updated bill text and face a vote-a-rama on the immigration plan, and Democrats said they will force votes to block or restrict a roughly $1.776 billion to $1.8 billion settlement fund.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as intra-GOP pushback against a Trump priority, emphasizing Republicans' intent to delete the ballroom funding and quoting GOP senators while repeating Democrats' characterization of the $1.8 billion as 'taxpayer money for his political allies.' Omissions include no White House defense, producing a critical, accountability-focused narrative.