White House ballroom loses federal funding for security proposed by Senate Republicans
Republicans, who hold the majority in the Senate, have used complex budget rules - known as the budget reconciliation process - to try to pass bills without Democratic support.Their latest sprawling package to fund immigration agencies under the Department of Homeland Security also includes a $1bn provision for security funds dedicated to the overhaul of the East Wing of the White House, which includes Trump's plans for the ballroom. Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who has acted as a referee in the upper chamber of US Congress since 2012, deemed the provision out of order on Saturday, Democrats said.She determined that the provision funds activities beyond the jurisdiction of the Senate Judiciary Committee and does not comply with a procedure that prevents extraneous non-budgetary provisions, known as the Byrd rule."Republicans tried to make taxpayers foot the bill for Trump's billion-dollar ballroom. Senate Democrats fought back — and blew up their first attempt," Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X on Saturday. "Now Ballroom Republicans say they're going back to the drawing board to try again. And Senate Democrats will be ready to stop them again.Schumer added: "Americans don't want a ballroom. They don't need a ballroom. And they sure as hell should not be forced to pay for one."Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, the top Democrat on the committee, said that he expects Republicans to change the bill "to appease Trump" and that Democrats are prepared to challenge any changes to the bill."Redraft. Refine. Resubmit. None of this is abnormal during a Byrd process," Ryan Wrasse, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, wrote on X.
