A US Senate official has removed security funding that could be used for Donald Trump's planned $400m White House ballroom from a spending package, Democratic lawmakers confirmed on Saturday. The decision by Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough deals a blow to Republican efforts to allocate taxpayer money to the contentious project.
Senate Republicans had sought $1bn in funding for the Secret Service, including security upgrades for the ballroom. However, the parliamentarian ruled that the provision did not meet procedural rules. The bulk of the $72bn spending package is focused on immigration enforcement.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took credit for the ruling, stating: 'Republicans tried to make taxpayers foot the bill for Trump's billion-dollar ballroom. Senate Democrats fought back – and blew up their first attempt.' He added that Democrats would be ready to stop any revised bill.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate but need 60 votes to pass most legislation. They are using complex budget rules to bypass Democratic support. Democrats have criticised the ballroom as an expensive diversion at a time of rising costs, including higher fuel prices.
The Trump administration has argued the ballroom is needed for security and modernisation, citing an April incident where a gunman tried to storm a black-tie gala attended by Trump. Trump has said the ballroom will be completed by September 2028 and will be 'the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World'.
Democrats hope to use Republican support for the ballroom to portray the party as out of touch ahead of November's midterm elections. The project has also faced legal challenges from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, though a court allowed construction to proceed in April.
