Democrats are eyeing a midterm election messaging weapon in a Republican proposal to use $1 billion in federal funds for security upgrades tied to President Donald Trump’s planned White House ballroom.
The proposed funding does not appear to be for the construction of the ballroom itself, which Trump has repeatedly said would be financed through personal contributions and private donors. Instead, the funding is earmarked for security-related upgrades connected to the project, known as the “East Wing Modernization Project,” the ballroom construction’s official name. GOP lawmakers are poised to include the money in a broader party-line $70 billion immigration enforcement legislation.
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Democrats see the issue as potent political messaging ahead of the midterm elections, arguing Republicans are effectively using taxpayer money to support Trump’s White House expansion plans while voters remain concerned about costs and affordability.
“If you are mad about Republicans’ shoveling $1 BILLION at Trump’s ballroom—as you should be!—just remember: Trump is asking them to blow 1500x times that amount on his war budget,” tweeted Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) similarly accused Republicans of being “on a different planet than American families.”
“Republicans looked at families drowning in bills and decided what they really needed was more raids and a Trump ballroom,” Schumer said.
A portion of the immigration funding bill released by the Senate Judiciary Committee states that $1 billion is to be spent on “security adjustments and upgrades” for the “East Wing Modernization Project.” Those upgrades include “above-ground and below-ground security features.”
The legislation, however, states that “None of the funds made available under this section may be used for non-security elements of the East Wing Modernization Project.”
Democrats are expected to challenge portions of the broader legislation under the so-called Byrd Rule, which governs spending restrictions in such budget reconciliation measures. But the ballroom-related funding is not likely to be a prime target, given the awkward position it could put some Republicans in just months out from the midterm elections.
Some Republicans could seek to strip out the provision, but several conservatives, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), have advocated the use of federal funding after the latest Trump assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. The White House said it “applauds” Congress for the proposed funding, adding that Republicans “rightly recognized the need for these funds.”
Trump defended the rising $400 million price tag of the ballroom on Wednesday, but did not address the proposed $1 billion in federal funding for security.
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“The only reason the cost has changed is because, after deep rooted studies, it is approximately twice the size, and a far higher quality, than the original proposal, which would not have been adequate to handle the necessary events, meetings, and even future Inaugurations,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“The original price was 200 Million Dollars, the double sized, highest quality completed project will be something less than 400 Million Dollars,” he continued. “It will be magnificent, safe, and secure! This was a necessary change, it was done long ago, but the Fake News failed to report it, trying to make it look like there was a cost overrun. Actually, it is coming in ahead of schedule, and under budget!”
