Federal funding for Trump ballroom in trouble after Senate ruling
Key takeaways
- Republicans want to allocate $1bn in public funds for Secret Service security upgrades linked to the plans.
- Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on Saturday that the proposed funding, as written in a spending bill, does not comply with the chamber’s budget rules, a Democratic lawmaker said.
- Trump had repeatedly said the ballroom itself would be funded through $400m in private donations.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Republicans want to allocate $1bn in public funds for Secret Service security upgrades linked to the plans.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo President Donald Trump argues that a White House ballroom is needed for the security of the president after an alleged assassination attempt against him on April 25, 2026, in Washington, DC [Will Oliver/EPA]Published On 17 May 202617 May 2026A senior United States Senate official has put up a major roadblock for Republicans as they seek to use taxpayer money for security upgrades linked to President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on Saturday that the proposed funding, as written in a spending bill, does not comply with the chamber’s budget rules, a Democratic lawmaker said.