$1 billion for security-related funding tied to President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom cannot stay in the GOP budget bill as drafted, after the Senate parliamentarian said it would face a 60-vote threshold.
Elizabeth MacDonough said the provision funds activities beyond the Judiciary Committee’s jurisdiction, running afoul of reconciliation rules that let Republicans bypass the filibuster only for narrowly budget-related measures.
Senate Republicans were already revising the language and insist the setback is routine in the Byrd process, but it is unclear they can rewrite the measure to fit within the committees authorized by the budget resolution.
The ruling deepens political and internal GOP resistance to using taxpayer money for a project Trump had previously said would cost $400 million and rely on private funding, with Democrats vowing to challenge any revised version.
With its $1 billion funding plan blocked, what is the future of the White House's underground complex?
Can a WWII-era bunker still protect a president from modern missile and drone threats?