Republicans Make Jaw-Dropping $1B Demand for Trump’s Ballroom Senate Republicans have proposed allocating $1 billion in taxpayer funds to fund “security adjustments and upgrades” for Donald Trump’s White House ballroom project, according to a reconciliation package released by Sen. Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The legislation, which focuses on federal law enforcement and border security spending, includes provisions to direct part of the $1 billion toward security enhancements for the East Wing Modernization Project—commonly referred to as Trump’s ballroom. The package explicitly states that none of the funds may be used for “non-security elements” of the project. The proposal comes amid heightened political tensions following the assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on April 25. Trump and his allies have repeatedly argued that the ballroom, which requires the demolition of parts of the East Wing, is essential for presidential security. The 90,000-square-foot space, previously estimated to cost $400 million, has been a contentious issue, with Trump insisting it will be privately funded. However, the recent push for public funds has drawn criticism, as the White House has previously stated that the Secret Service would handle security modifications for the facility. The legal battle over the ballroom’s construction has also intensified. A federal judge ordered a halt to construction unless Congress approved the project, citing concerns over historical preservation.#donald_trump #immigration_and_customs_enforcement #white_house_correspondents_association_dinner #chuck_grassley #national_trust_for_historic_preservation
Republicans Plan to Fund Trump’s Ballroom with Taxpayer Money via Reconciliation Bill Congressional Republicans have advanced a $72 billion reconciliation bill that includes $1 billion in taxpayer funds for security upgrades to former President Donald Trump’s private ballroom, despite repeated assurances from the White House that the project would be privately financed. The funding, which would be allocated through the budget reconciliation process, bypasses the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and is part of a broader effort to address immigration and border security funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The proposal emerged against the backdrop of a recent congressional deal to end a government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Democrats had initially proposed a funding plan in February that excluded ICE and CBP, which they sought to reform. Republicans ultimately accepted the Democratic framework but pledged to address ICE and CBP separately through the reconciliation process. The ballroom funding, however, appears to be a contentious addition to the package. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, unveiled the bill’s immigration and border security provisions, which include $38 billion for ICE, $26 billion for CBP, and $5 billion for DHS. The $1 billion allocated for the ballroom is explicitly tied to “security adjustments and upgrades,” with restrictions preventing its use for non-security elements. This provision has drawn sharp criticism, as it marks a departure from the White House’s earlier claims that the project would be fully privately funded.#donald_trump #department_of_homeland_security #customs_and_border_protection #immigration_and_customs_enforcement #chuck_grassley
