Senate Republicans Challenge $1 Billion White House Security Request as $220 Million Targets Trump Ballroom
Updated
Updated · WFMD · May 13
Senate Republicans Challenge $1 Billion White House Security Request as $220 Million Targets Trump Ballroom
13 articles · Updated · WFMD · May 13
$1 billion in White House and Secret Service funding drew fresh Republican skepticism after a closed-door briefing, with senators saying the administration still had not shown how it calculated the total.
Sean Curran's breakdown allocated $220 million to White House complex hardening tied to Trump's ballroom, $180 million to a visitor screening center and $600 million to training, protection upgrades and counter-drone measures.
Republicans said the request is not simply 'for a ballroom' but still may need trimming, arguing the cost is difficult to justify to taxpayers even as many support stronger protection after a third assassination attempt last month.
The money sits inside a broader $72 billion immigration reconciliation package, where it still faces Byrd Rule scrutiny in the Senate and expected Democratic attacks that it should be redirected to affordability concerns.
How did a proposed private ballroom become a publicly funded national security project following recent threats?
Can a billion-dollar security overhaul protect the president without turning the historic 'People's House' into a fortress?