Senate Republicans Eliminate $1 Billion Funding for Trump’s Proposed White House Ballroom

The US Senate has moved forward with a previously stalled immigration spending measure after GOP lawmakers voted to remove $1 billion (£745m) designated for President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom. The removed funds were originally allocated for security enhancements by the US Secret Service, a request made in the wake of an April shooting incident at a gala hosted at a hotel that Trump attended.

While the president has maintained that the new structure is essential for hosting official state events and modernizing security infrastructure, he has consistently stated that the project would be financed through private contributions. The broader reconciliation bill, which provides approximately $72 billion to immigration agencies, had drawn criticism from Democrats, who argued that the security funding should not be bundled with the legislation. The Senate’s presiding officer concurred with this assessment.

In a 53-45 vote on Wednesday, senators approved the next steps for the bill, which supports agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol. The chamber is now set to debate the proposal and consider amendments before a final vote, a process expected to last several hours and potentially extend into Thursday. Should the bill pass, it will proceed to the House of Representatives before being sent to President Trump for his signature.

Democrats have long opposed Trump’s efforts to construct a large ballroom on the grounds of the demolished White House East Wing. Consequently, the decision to excise the funding represents a significant hurdle for the president’s construction ambitions, although the long-term effect on the project remains uncertain.

Progress on the legislation had already been delayed for months, compounding earlier friction when Republicans resisted the Department of Justice’s proposal to create an “anti-weaponisation fund.” This fund was intended to distribute $1.8 billion to individuals who claimed to have suffered from government overreach. Critics, including some Republicans, labeled the proposal a slush fund designed to compensate Trump’s allies, including those involved in the 2021 US Capitol riot aimed at obstructing Joe Biden’s inauguration.

On Tuesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed lawmakers that the Justice Department was abandoning its plans to establish the fund, though he refused to provide this confirmation in writing. Following the testimony, Trump told reporters that the matter was not entirely resolved, noting that he would need to consult with legal counsel.

In response to the controversy, Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced intentions to introduce legislation prohibiting the creation of such a fund. Other Republicans have also voiced strong opposition to the proposal, while Democrats have indicated they will pursue their own legislative measures to block it.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 01:18:09 UTC