Ballroom won't be funded after Senate GOP drops $1 billion Trump security request

GOP senators raised public concerns about including ballroom-related funding in a bill focused on immigration enforcement. More Republicans privately opposed the Secret Service security funding, and frustration increased after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over John Cornyn in a Texas primary runoff. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said parliamentary issues and vote count remain obstacles to including Secret Service security funding, and the bill text is not finalized. Draft legislation explicitly referenced the East Wing Modernization Project and allowed part of $1 billion in Secret Service funding for above-ground and below-ground security features. The White House prioritized keeping that language, arguing passage would amount to congressional approval of the ballroom project, which is currently tied up in court over alleged improper authorization. Republicans expect a strong Trump reaction if the funding is dropped.

"Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Republicans during the lunch Wednesday that both factors - the parliamentary issues and the vote count - remain obstacles to including the Secret Service security funding, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the private gathering."

"Draft legislation made an explicit mention of the East Wing Modernization Project, specifying that part of the $1 billion in Secret Service funding could be used for "above-ground and below-ground security features" of the ballroom project."

"That mention was a top priority for the White House, which made clear earlier this month that passage of the bill with the language included would amount to Congress granting approval to the ballroom project as a whole. The administration is currently mired in court after a federal judge ruled earlier this year that the project had not been properly authorized by lawmakers."

"Republicans are privately bracing for a furious Trump reaction to the decision to drop the security funding, according to two people granted anonymity to describe internal conversations. Even before Senate GOP leaders made the decision, the president called for MacDonough's firing in a Truth Social post."

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