Washington, DC
For months, President Trump touted the new, grand ballroom being built on the White House grounds as a gift to the nation, courtesy of patriotic private donors. Last November, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “And by the way, no government funds are being used,” adding, “It’s all private individuals who contributed a lot of money to build the ballroom. Not a single penny is coming from the federal government.”
But the gleaming 8,361-square-meter space, which he repeatedly claimed would cost taxpayers nothing, could end up costing taxpayers $1 billion due to new security upgrades tied to the project.
Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a Republican from Iowa, has introduced a long-term funding bill for immigration and border patrol that includes $1 billion earmarked for security upgrades related to the ballroom project.
The legislation stipulates that the money is earmarked for “security adjustments and enhancements, including the perimeter of the White House complex, to support U.S. Secret Service improvements related to the East Wing Modernization Project, including both above-ground and underground security measures.”
This provision is part of a “reconciliation” bill, driven exclusively by Republicans, which the party plans to pass this year. The package as a whole is a major priority for the Republican leadership, as well as for the president. However, some Republicans expressed skepticism about the taxpayer contribution to the ballroom last week.
In a statement, a White House spokesman praised the Republican-led spending proposal. “Congress has rightly recognized the need for these funds,” spokesman Davis Ingle stated. Due in part to the recent assassination attempt against President Trump during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the proposal would provide the U.S. Secret Service with the resources needed to fully bolster security at the White House complex, in addition to its many other crucial missions.
Senate Democrats expect to reject the $1 billion proposal and plan to force a vote to try to remove this provision from the bill when it comes before the full Senate later this month.
