Republicans may abandon the $1 billion security funding for Trump's White House ballroom project

Republican Senate leaders are expected to abandon a $1 billion security proposal for the White House complex and President Donald Trump’s ballroom after backlash from within their own party. Republicans had sought to attach the funding to a roughly $70 billion bill aimed at restoring funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Some GOP lawmakers opposed the security request due to questions about timing, cost, and how taxpayer money would be used. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is working to pass the bill before Memorial Day recess, but the bill text has not been released. Senators are also meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to finalize text and consider parameters for a $1.776 billion settlement fund tied to claims of political persecution.

"Republican leaders are expected to abandon a proposal for $1 billion in security money for the White House complex and President Donald Trump's ballroom amid backlash from members of their own party. Pressured by the White House, Republicans tried to add the money to a roughly $70 billion bill to restore funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. But the security proposal met with opposition from some GOP lawmakers who are questioning the timing of the request, the cost, and how the taxpayer dollars would be used."

"Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., acknowledged "ongoing vote issues" on Wednesday as leaders tried to measure Republican support and figure out what will be allowed in the bill under the chamber's rules. Thune hopes to pass the bill this week and send it to the House before leaving for a weeklong Memorial Day recess. But the bill's text has still not been released as leaders were wrangling over the security proposal and new GOP concerns over the Trump administration's $1.776 billion settlement fund."

"Republican senators were set to meet with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday as they finalized the text and decided whether to put parameters on the settlement, which was designed to compensate Trump's allies who believe they have been politically persecuted. Thune told reporters that senators have questions about the fund and want to know "how we might make sure that it's fenced in appropriately." The last-minute scramble comes as Democrats have criticized Republicans for trying to fund Trump's ballroom when voters are concerned about basic affordability issues."

"Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters Wednesday that the bill was "back to square one" without the security money because "the votes are not there." Several GOP senators have spoken out against the settlement, which was "

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