Senate Republicans Seek $1 Billion for White House Security Project as Trump Promised Private Ballroom Funding
Updated
Updated · WRAL News · May 14
Senate Republicans Seek $1 Billion for White House Security Project as Trump Promised Private Ballroom Funding
11 articles · Updated · WRAL News · May 14
$1 billion in taxpayer funding is now in a Senate Republican reconciliation proposal for Secret Service security upgrades tied to the East Wing modernization project, which includes Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
The measure says money cannot pay for non-security elements, but it does not define that boundary; experts said features such as blast-proof glass, missile-resistant columns and other hardening are difficult to separate from construction itself.
The White House still says the ballroom will be privately funded, even though Trump’s project has been described as a 90,000-square-foot venue for 999 people and its estimated cost rose from $200 million to $400 million.
The push gained momentum after an April 25 shooting at the hotel hosting the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Trump attended, with Republicans citing the need to harden the White House complex.
Democrats called the plan a reversal of Trump’s no-taxpayer-money pledge, while the bill’s reconciliation path could let it clear the Senate with a simple majority if brought to a vote.
How will officials guarantee taxpayer money for security isn't used to build the new White House ballroom?
With its planned military complex, is the White House transforming from a public symbol into a private fortress?